Calgary to install new safety measures at 15 stormwater ponds after drownings

City moves to harden defences around high‑risk ponds

The City of Calgary has announced it will begin safety improvements at 15 stormwater retention ponds across the city, adding physical barriers and clearer warning information to deter people from entering the water.

Civic officials said the locations were identified through a review of ponds across Calgary as the highest priorities for safety enhancements. Work is scheduled to begin in mid‑August and will focus on a mix of signage upgrades, dense plantings and fencing to reduce the likelihood of people accessing open water.

“Through a review of ponds across The City, these locations were identified as the highest priority for safety enhancements,”

The announcement follows several high‑profile incidents this summer involving stormwater ponds, including the drowning of a seven‑year‑old girl in the southeast community of Legacy. That pond — the Legacy Small Pond — is among those slated to receive improvements.

What changes residents can expect

According to the city release, the package of measures will include:

• New interpretive signage designed to increase public awareness of hazards around stormwater infrastructure;
• Natural, dense barriers created by thorny vegetation intended to discourage access while providing some ecological value;
• Permanent partial fencing where appropriate, and temporary seasonal fencing to provide additional protection during times of higher risk.

City crews will continue to assess other ponds to determine further candidates for enhancements.

Where the work will take place

The list of ponds targeted for immediate work spans several wards. Many are in newer southeast communities where stormwater retention ponds are common landscape features.

Context and local consequences

Stormwater retention ponds are common in Calgary’s suburban developments. They collect runoff and reduce flood risk by holding water that would otherwise overwhelm storm sewer systems. But their steep banks, cold water and hidden currents can create hazardous conditions for anyone who enters the water, particularly children and pets.

For many communities, these ponds double as visual and environmental amenities, with naturalized edges and pathways. That dual role complicates municipal decisions: maintaining access and greenspace while minimising risk. The City’s approach combines warning signs with physical measures specifically designed to make entry more difficult rather than eliminating ponds entirely.

Families and neighbourhood groups in affected communities can expect to see crews on site this month. The presence of thorny plantings and fencing will alter pond edges in the short term; officials said they will assess the effectiveness of measures and consider similar work at other sites as needed.

Officials did not attach a cost estimate to the initial set of improvements. They did indicate ongoing assessments will determine the next ponds to be upgraded, leaving scope for more work across the city depending on resources and outcomes.

Calgarians who use ponds for passive recreation should note that signs prohibiting entry remain in place. The new interpretive signs aim to explain risk rather than simply warn, and the city says it hopes clearer messaging combined with physical measures will reduce incidents.

With warm weather and children out of school, municipal leaders say increased vigilance is required around stormwater infrastructure. The city’s response underscores a broader challenge for rapidly growing communities: balancing the environmental and stormwater management benefits of retention ponds with the duty to protect residents from avoidable tragedies.

Crews will continue to assess other ponds across Calgary to determine which sites require similar upgrades in future rounds of work.