No swimming or fishing at stormwater ponds

Stormwater management ponds are not like regular, natural ponds – these are human-made ponds designed to temporarily hold water before releasing it back into the environment at a controlled rate. Because of this, they are not made for recreational use, including fishing and swimming.

Water constantly flows in and out of stormwater ponds, so water levels are always changing, making any activity in or around them unsafe. Please enjoy the beauty of these ponds from a safe distance.

We’re keeping stormwater ponds in top shape!

City-wide outdoor maintenance operations are underway, and this includes work at more than 150 stormwater ponds in Vaughan. From May to October, City of Vaughan staff complete three rounds of litter cleanup and grass cutting to ensure we can access each pond for operational purposes. 

As we undergo the work, you may notice some greenery in and around the ponds is left untouched. Here’s why:

Unlike natural bodies of water, stormwater ponds are designed and built to collect rainfall and other runoff. The vegetation growing around them, such as long grass, shrubs and trees, is integral to how the ponds function because they:

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

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

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