The Grand River Conservation Authority has begun its annual installation of warning buoys and booms upstream of 28 dams across the Grand River watershed in Ontario. This safety measure, which started the week of April 20, 2026, aims to warn paddlers, anglers, and boaters to keep a safe distance from dangerous areas near water infrastructure.
The Canadian Dam Association provides guidelines for these safety devices, which are designed to alert the public to strong undertows and recirculating currents near dams. These water movements, often called boils or the drowning machine effect, can trap people even if they are wearing life jackets. In July 2024, two women, Annette Martz and Rachel Taylor, died on the Grand River after their floatation device went over a low-lift station weir during high and fast currents.
Work is expected to be finished by mid-May 2026, with the safety equipment staying in place throughout the summer until they are removed before the water freezes in the fall. The organization is also in the process of replacing older orange booms with yellow ones to meet current Transport Canada regulations.
Katelyn Lynch, the authority’s director of water infrastructure, notes that while these 28 sites have safety markers, there are more than 100 other dams in the watershed not owned by the authority that may lack the same protective equipment. In addition to the buoys and signs, the organization has produced a 12-page guide with water safety tips intended for children.
