HCA Winter and Ice Safety Information

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Winter Safety Information

Hamilton Conservation Authority encourages everyone to get out and enjoy our natural areas in any season, but with the arrival of winter weather come winter hazards.

We have assembled a few basic guidelines which will help you identify and avoid some common winter hazards. Please take a moment to learn about some of the hazard areas to avoid in the conservation areas during the winter.

Valens Lake

Fifty Point

Christie Lake

Dundas Valley

Hazard Areas
Hamilton’s conservation areas include Niagara Escarpment properties, Lake Ontario shoreline properties, wetlands, ponds, lakes, creeks streams and dams. Ice safety is more than just being aware of thin ice. The best way to enjoy a safe visit is to keep all members of the family and pets off all ice, except official skating areas, and away from cold water.

Trails
While some of our trails are maintained for winter recreation, many kilometres of HCA trails travel through passive areas such as valley lands and escarpment brows and are not maintained. Icy conditions can exist at any time during the winter, especially in valley areas. Extreme caution should be used where the ground is uneven or near a cliff edge as icy conditions may cause slips and falls. Avoid approaching the escarpment edge where ice or snow may compromise solid footing or hide possible dangers.

Creeks and streams
Creek and stream banks should be avoided in the winter. Ice and snow make footing unpredictable, and with frequent freezes and thaws throughout the season, water flow may become a dangerous factor. Please keep all children away from creeks and streams.

Ponds
Ice fishing and skating are two very popular winter activities on our ponds and smaller lakes. Do not walk out on to frozen lakes or ponds unless it is posted safe to do so. Follow all posted instructions and NEVER go out alone.

Dams
Dams pose a number of hazards, especially during winter. Dams typically have water flowing through them which prevents the formation of a thick ice sheet nearby. Ice near a dam should never be walked on. HCA offers the opportunity to walk across some of our dams as part of our trail network. Note that the walkways across dams are often very slippery and handrails should be used when crossing. Running and jogging should be avoided. Extreme care is required around dams with many hazards such as steep banks and cold water present. Never walk on any part of a dam that is not clearly marked for passage.

Shorelines and marinas
Lake Ontario shorelines and marinas (and any decks or boardwalks around marinas) should always be avoided during cold periods of the year with the exception of permitted ice fishing. During the fall and winter, water levels are low and this makes it very difficult for someone to climb out of the water should they fall in. Boardwalks may be icy and slippery. Even when there is no ice, the cold water is a serious hazard. Use the roadways around the area for walking.

Lake and marina ice forms sometime after mid-November and usually stays until the end of March. This ice is NOT consistent. In some places it may be 50 centimetres thick, yet adjacent ice may only be a few centimetres thick. If it is covered by recent snow, the ice may appear the same to the unsuspecting person. Ice may come and go on a daily basis. Because of wave action on the lake, even very thick ice can be broken up by storms and is highly unpredictable.

Lake Ontario shoreline ice mounds
During most winters huge mounds of ice form along parts of the Lake Ontario shoreline. They may look compelling to climb on but they are EXTREMELY dangerous. They can break apart at any time, they are very slippery and if one was to fall into the water on the lakeside of these mounds, getting out of the water is virtually impossible. STAY AWAY. Enjoy their beauty from a distance.

Know the Dangers of Cold Water

Rescue equipment
We cannot stress enough the importance of leaving rescue equipment undisturbed so that it is available in the event of an emergency. Winter visitors should familiarize themselves with where the rescue equipment is located.

Cold water – hypothermia
Cold water kills. Make no mistake about it; there may be only minutes between life and death when water approaches 0 degrees Celsius. Not only must we consider the amount of time in the water that a person might be exposed to, but also the time it takes to get a person to a warm place after rescue.

Please note the location of our Hypothermia Safety Kits before venturing on to the ice. These are available in the major Conservation Areas. Please check for their exact location when you visit.

Automatic External Defibrillators are located in the major conservation areas. Ice factors
Many factors affect ice thickness including: type of water, location, the time of year and other environmental factors such as:

Water depth and size of body of water
Currents and other moving water
Chemicals including salt
Fluctuations in water levels
Logs, rocks and docks absorbing heat from the sun
Changing air temperature

Ice colour
The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength.

Clear blue ice is strongest.
White opaque or snow ice is half as strong as blue ice. Opaque ice is formed by wet snow freezing on the ice.
Grey ice is unsafe. The grayness indicates the presence of water.

Safe ice thicknesses

15 cm (6 inches) for walking or skating in pairs
20 cm (8 inches) for skating parties or games

Avoid going out on ice at night. Make no mistake: If a person enters cold water, it is a life- threatening situation.

Dogs
Please note that dog owners are often put at severe risk because they try to rescue their dog which has wandered off and fallen through the ice or into deep water at the edge of the ice. IF THERE WAS EVER A REASON TO KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEASH, THIS IS IT. Conservation Authority regulations state that dogs are to be leashed at all times.

Hamilton Conservation Authority hopes that this information will be helpful to you in planning your winter activities at our Conservation Areas. Please feel free to inquire about winter safety from the staff at any of our Conservation Areas. Make winter safety your priority, and enjoy some safe, fun, healthy activities in the great outdoors this winter season.

For more information on ice safety, please visit www.redcross.ca

HCA Winter and Ice Safety Information

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Winter Safety Information

Valens Lake

Fifty Point

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Dundas Valley

Know the Dangers of Cold Water

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Current Water Levels

Water Level Explanations

Flood Status Explanations

	Normal No low water conditions exist.
	Level 1 Water users are asked to voluntarily reduce consumption by 10 percent. Precipitation totals are less than 80 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 100 / 70 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.
	Level 2 Water users are asked to voluntarily reduce consumption by 20 percent. Precipitation totals are less than 60 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 70 / 50 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.
	Level 3 There is also potential for economic harm to water takers and/or significant harm to the ecosystem. The Hamilton Water Response Team may ask the province to impose mandatory restrictions on those holding Permits to Take Water. Precipitation totals are less than 40 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 50 / 30 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.

	Normal No flood conditions exist.
	Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety High flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other factors that could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc. Flooding is not expected.
	Watershed Conditions Statement - Flood Outlook Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams, lakeshore flooding or erosion.
	Flood Watch Flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
	Flood Warning Flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities and individuals should take action to deal with flood conditions. This may include road closures and evacuations.