City of Calgary to add new barriers, warnings at 15 storm ponds after safety review
Posted Aug 14, 2026 10:57 am.
The City of Calgary will roll out new safety measures at 15 storm ponds beginning in mid‑August.
The city says the move follows a review that identified the locations as the highest‑priority sites for upgrades, including one location in southeast Calgary where a young girl drowned earlier this summer.
Storm ponds are part of Calgary’s stormwater system and already feature caution signage reminding residents that entering the water is prohibited. But, the city says the new measures will include updated warning signs, interpretive signage explaining risks, denser vegetation to create natural barriers, and a combination of permanent and seasonal fencing.
Each pond has been individually assessed to determine which specific enhancements are needed, and additional sites could be added as the assessments continue. Current work is listed on the City’s storm pond map.
The City says the chosen ponds were prioritized based on the frequency of 311 calls and complaints related to unsafe behaviour.
Officials say the goal is to reinforce public awareness that storm ponds are working infrastructure, not recreational spaces. Activities such as swimming, skating, fishing, or using frozen ponds as shortcuts are banned under the Stormwater Bylaw.
“We’re hoping these changes will add onto the communication campaign, by creating more of a physical reminder in front of people and creating that physical awareness that it isn’t safe to be on storm ponds any time of the year,” said Nicole Sparks, manager of Water Services with the City of Calgary.
The upgrades were planned last summer, but the drowning of a six‑year‑old girl in July at a Legacy storm pond has renewed calls for stronger protections.
