For Lt. Jeff Avery, safety codes officer with Cochrane Fire Services, Cochranites who choose to make recreational use of the off-limits storm ponds around town are literally skating on thin ice.
“The only place in town that allows for skating on an open pond is Mitford Pond,” explained Avery, with reference to the storm water retention ponds located in various communities throughout town.
“It’s extremely dangerous for kids to be playing in those areas,” he said, adding that Fireside is one of the greatest areas of concern, with an area containing three connecting storm ponds.
Areas where there is running water can also pose risk.
“With running water it’s not ever really thick enough … it doesn’t take much to get pulled under,” added Fire Chief Dave Humphry, citing Jumping Pound Creek as an example of a running body of water people mistakenly feel is safe to skate on due to
Both fire services and RCMP report there have been no incidents or injuries to report to date, but are cautioning recreational users to ward off temptations to test the waters.
“Unless we test those retention ponds on a daily basis, we won’t know the stability of the ice,” explained Humphry, adding that the Chinook temperatures bring on considerable freeze/thaw variations, creating void spaces and inconsistent ice thickness.
Salt from the roads also gets deposited into the retention ponds, interfering with the consistency of ice.
“Storm ponds are supposed to be off-limits,” confirmed Cst. Amelie Morin with Cochrane RCMP, adding that parents have been calling in to inquire about questionable ice conditions following the last two weeks of warm temperatures.
Like Cochrane Fire Services, RCMP is asking people to exercise common sense.
While Ghost Lake is under federal waterways jurisdiction, Morin said people are being “more and more vigilant” about driving on the reservoir.
Previous years have seen cars plunging through the ice, where Cochrane emergency services are dispatched to assist.
Aside from Mitford Pond, there is outdoor skating at the Tim Bannister Memorial Rink located in the East End.
Conditions are updated regularly and can be accessed through the outdoor facility status line at 403-851-2552. Ice fishing is not permitted at Mitford Pond.
