More warning signs needed on the Grand River, safety advocates say

What should have been a leisurely float down the Grand River ended in tragedy last month as Annette Martz and Rachel Taylor disappeared after their two person pool floaty went over the Hidden Valley Low-Lift Station weir.

The dam is located about a kilometer downstream from the Freeport Bridge and is almost invisible from water level.

The two women died when they were pulled into the churning water at the base of the low dam.

Following the heartbreaking events on July 13, safety advocates are calling on the Region of Waterloo to install better warning signs and other safety measures to help prevent further tragedies.

Amy Haertel, founder, River Access Point Safety Movement told The Mike Farwell Show, the signage in the area is simply inadequate.

“It’s small. It’s covered with vegetation and it’s very dangerous over there. And, a lot people don’t know these low-head dams even exists and they certainly don’t know how dangerous they are. So, having the signage there is so important to the recreational user.”

The region owns the Hidden Valley Dam, so safety signage would be its responsibility. Haertel points out that on similar dams they have excellent warning signs and things like buoys across the river. Many of those are owned and operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA).

“However, other dams and weirs that are everywhere in the Grand River watershed and Ontario are not owned by the GRCA. They are owned by the region or municipalities or the cities and they don’t have the mandate to show that kind of signage.”

Haertel is urging the region to make river safety a priority. She would like to see it take a page from the GRCA and mimic its sign practices.

She said she knows the officials at the region have heard her groups concerns but she worries a seemingly lackadaisical response could lead to further, preventable tragedies.