Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety

Stay off frozen natural water bodies

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is warning the public not to use frozen rivers, reservoirs and ponds for on-ice activities such as skating and ice fishing. 

Recent warm, wet weather has led to significant runoff and increased water levels and flows in the Grand River watershed. GRCA major reservoirs were used to reduce downstream flood impacts. Water levels will remain elevated into next week as runoff stored in these reservoirs is gradually discharged.

The ice on local rivers and water bodies can be very unsafe. The runoff and high-water levels have weakened the ice and lifted it away from shorelines. The ice can break easily and should not be used for any winter activity. Higher flows will continue to weaken ice sheets where they have formed.

River systems, reservoirs, and water control structures experience changing water levels and flows that prevent stable ice formation. While colder temperatures allow for some ice formation, daily changes in temperature, wind, precipitation and underwater currents greatly affect ice conditions. Snow on top of the ice can hide weak spots and slow the ice from freezing properly.

Public safety

The public is encouraged to exercise extreme caution around all local waterways and is strongly advised to stay off all ice at this time. Parents and caregivers should keep children and pets away from the water and off the ice. Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery and, when combined with cold, fast-moving water, pose a serious hazard. Recreational users near local waterways should be aware of the current conditions and exercise additional caution.

This message will remain in effect until 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

More information

• For more information on flows, weather and reservoir conditions see the River Data section of the GRCA website.
• Water safety information for parents and children is available on the Water Safety section of the GRCA website.
• More information on the flood warning system is available on the GRCA website.
• Receive GRCA flood messages by e-mail by subscribing through the GRCA website.
• Follow GRCA flood messages on Twitter at @grca_flood_msg.
• More information about how the GRCA manages floods is available in the Flooding section of the website.

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Media Contacts:

Serena Catania, GRCA Supervisor of Communications and Marketing
Phone (519) 621-2763 x2240  |  Email scatania@grandriver.ca