Trail, waterway users urged to use caution after Grand River flooding
Grand River Conservation Authority says tubing at Elora Gorge has been suspended for now
The Grand River Conservation Authority is warning people who head out on the region's trails and waterways this weekend to use extreme caution in the wake of Grand River flooding.
About 100 millimetres of rain fell in the northern portion of the Grand River watershed. As a result, a large amount of debris was washed into rivers, and as river waters rose, they also sucked in objects on the banks, such as garbage cans, picnic tables and children's wagons.
These objects pose a risk to users, and the GRCA warns that they may not be visible on the surface of the water.
Warning buoys displaced
Also, the high water also displaced many warning buoys and booms on rivers. Booms are often located upstream of low head dams to warn kayakers, canoeists and other water users of dangers.
The GRCA says that inexperienced river users should avoid activities on the Grand River until all of the safety devices have been replaced.
Tubing down the Grand at the Elora Gorge Park has been suspended until further notice because of high water flows through the gorge. As well, tubing infrastructure in the gorge was damaged and needs to be repaired.
Trails in the region are likely to be muddy and slippery, and many were damaged from the rainfall and river flows. The GRCA says it is still assessing damages to the trails.