Stormwater ponds may look like ordinary ponds, but under the surface they are completely different. They are human-made specifically to hold rainwater and snowmelt, to keep municipal roads and neighbourhoods from flooding. They are not built for recreation, and you can earn a ticket if you participate in recreation in or on one at any time of year.
Because of their design and function, they have some major idiosyncrasies that natural ponds do not:
- Stormwater ponds have constantly flowing water. This means that the pond won't reliably freeze in the winter, making the ice unstable.
- Stormwater pond ice contains air pockets and contaminants that weaken ice. Even in the coldest of weather, the ice can still be incredibly unsafe.
Learn more by visiting this page from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
