News

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), with the help of a consultant and in collaboration with the City of Brantford, is undertaking a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Brantford Ice Jam Mitigation Study.

The GRCA is currently working to complete emergency repairs to the dam's gate operation equipment. Until the repairs are completed the discharge gate will be left open to protect the integrity of the dam. As a result, water levels in the pond have decreased significantly resulting in a low-flow channel through the pond footprint. This channel will remain until the gate is repaired and can be closed.

Overnight on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, and into Thursday, April 3, a significant amount of rainfall was received throughout the Grand River watershed including in the area near and upstream of the Township of Wellesley. This resulted in higher-than-normal inflows to Wellesley Pond. The extremely high water levels resulted in damage to the discharge gate equipment at Wellesley Dam. The GRCA is currently working to complete emergency repairs to the gate equipment, which will continue on Friday, April 4.

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will invest about $40 million this year on programs that protect life and minimize property damage from flooding and erosion, improve the health of the Grand River watershed, connect people to the environment through outdoor experiences and manage its land holdings responsibly and sustainably.

The snow may still be falling, but the 2025 camping season is just around the corner! The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) campsite reservation system will be open to take reservations online beginning February 25, 2025, at 8:00 a.m.

With the recent colder temperatures and snow, winter activities are well underway at the six Grand River Conservation Areas that are open year-round, including Belwood Lake, Guelph Lake, Laurel Creek, Pinehurst Lake, Rockwood and Shade’s Mills conservation areas.

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has a new Chair and Vice-Chair. John Challinor II, Town of Milton Councillor, has been elected Chair. Shawn Watters, Township of Centre Wellington Mayor, has been elected Vice-Chair.

Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) crews are completing the annual fall removal of its safety booms and buoys over the coming days. The booms and buoys are installed each spring upstream of GRCA dams to alert paddlers, anglers and boaters to stay away from the dams. 

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is preparing for a maintenance project on the Shand Dam, which will run from November 2024 to February 2025.

The presence of blue-green algae has been observed at the Belwood Lake, Conestogo Lake, Guelph Lake and Woolwich reservoirs.