GRCA installing warning booms and buoys at dams

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will be installing warning booms or buoys upstream of dams to alert paddlers, anglers and boaters to stay away.

Dams can pose serious hazards that can result in injuries or even fatalities if warning signs are ignored, the authority states in an April 5 press release.

Water surges through gates and valves or over the dams, creating strong undertows and currents around the structures, which can be extremely dangerous.

To help manage these risks, the GRCA will be installing plastic floats joined together by a chain to create booms that serve as public safety devices.

The installation of the buoys and booms will take place between April 8 and 23, depending on weather conditions.

The buoys/booms will remain in place throughout the spring and summer and will be removed in the fall.

The GRCA says it is important to remember that while the water around dams may appear peaceful, the areas upstream and downstream are much more dangerous.

The authority urges all water enthusiasts to heed the warning buoys and booms, and stay away from the dams for their own safety.

For more information about safety around GRCA dams visit www.grandriver.ca.