Coming soon: stormwater pond spring maintenance!

Annual litter cleanup and grass cutting around 150 stormwater ponds to begin

The City of Vaughan’s city-wide spring maintenance efforts are well underway and will include cleaning up around 150 stormwater management ponds.

As part of this seasonal work, which begins in May and wraps up by October, the City will complete three rounds of litter pickup around stormwater ponds and grass cutting along the perimeter of each pond area.

Unlike natural bodies of water, stormwater ponds are designed and built to collect rainfall and other runoff. The vegetation around them is integral to how they function. The City’s stormwater ponds are landscaped with grasses, shrubs and trees to:

• improve water quality.
• discourage geese from landing in ponds.
• stabilize the ground when water levels fluctuate.
• filter out coarse sediments and pollutants.
• act as safety barriers.

Stormwater ponds are not for play!

While stormwater ponds may look safe for fishing, swimming or playing around – they are not! Stormwater ponds are not made or intended for recreational use, so keep a safe distance away. The ponds temporarily hold water before releasing it slowly back into the environment at a controlled rate. This process means water constantly flows in and out of the pond, so water levels are always changing, making any activity in or around it unsafe. This water is also not treated before it makes its way back into local creeks, rivers and lakes.

To learn more about the City’s stormwater ponds, visit vaughan.ca/stormwater.

Keep away from sick or dead wildlife

With more geese returning to the community, the City is reporting a significant number of birds that have died or are infected with avian influenza (H5N1), also known as bird flu, throughout the community.

As is always recommended by the Public Health Agency of Canada, you should not handle sick or dead wild birds or other wildlife, as they may be infected with diseases that can spread to humans. Pets should be kept away from sick or dead wild birds and animals and on leashes when outside.

Here are other tips from the Canadian Wildlife Services for pet owners:

• Limit interactions between pets and wild birds.
• Do not feed pets any raw meat from wild birds or poultry.
• Consult with your veterinarian for more information on avian influenza in pets.

Please report any dead or ill geese to Vaughan Animal Services at 905-832-2281 or animal.services@vaughan.ca and staff will respond. Please do not touch the birds.

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