Residents reminded to stay off stormwater retention ponds

Lloydminster, AB/SK – With recent warmer weather and fluctuating temperatures, the City of Lloydminster is reminding residents to stay off of stormwater retention ponds.

Although the surface may appear frozen, changing weather conditions and continuous water movement beneath the ice make stormwater ponds extremely dangerous. Unlike the lake at Bud Miller All Seasons Park, ice thickness on these ponds are not monitored.

Stormwater ponds are engineered facilities designed to collect and manage runoff from rainfall and melting snow. Their purpose is to prevent flooding, improve drainage, and protect the community's stormwater system, not to serve as recreational areas. Each pond connects to others through inlets and outlets, keeping water moving beneath the surface and preventing the formation of stable ice.

There are 17 stormwater ponds within city limits, and none are intended for public recreation. Residents are urged to:

• Obey all posted signage.
• Keep children and pets a safe distance from the water.
• Never attempt to rescue anyone who has fallen through the ice - call 911 immediately. Lloydminster Fire Rescue is trained to respond to these emergencies.

The City encourages everyone to enjoy winter activities safely by skating only on monitored and designated ice surfaces, such as the Bud Miller All Seasons Park lake. For more information about outdoor ice surfaces, visit Lloydminster.ca/ODR.