Stormwater pond maintenance is underway

City-wide spring maintenance is underway – and that includes work at more than 150 stormwater management ponds throughout Vaughan! From May to October, the City completes three rounds of litter cleanup and grass cutting to ensure we can access each pond for operational purposes. 

As we complete the work, you may notice some greenery in and around the ponds is left untouched. Here’s why:

Unlike natural bodies of water, stormwater ponds are designed and built to collect rainfall and other runoff. The vegetation growing around stormwater ponds, such as long grass, shrubs and trees, is integral to how the ponds function. This is because they:

• act as safety barriers for pedestrians.

• discourage geese from landing in the ponds.

• improve water quality.

• filter out coarse sediments (like sand or gravel) and pollutants from the water.

• stabilize the ground when water levels fluctuate.

Algae and floating aquatic plants

Algae in stormwater ponds is not always a sign that a pond is unhealthy. It’s often a natural response to nutrients (such as phosphorus and nitrogen) entering the water through stormwater runoff from nearby lawns, gardens and roads. Rain washes pollutants, such as fertilizers, pet waste, yard debris and dirt, into stormwater ponds, which can lead to algae growth.

In small amounts, algae can benefit a stormwater pond's ecosystem by producing energy, providing food for aquatic life. However, too many nutrients become pollutants, which can be unhealthy for the pond and the surrounding environment.

You can help reduce the number of pollutants entering stormwater ponds by: 

• reducing fertilizer use or using phosphorus-free fertilizers.

• keeping yard waste and grass clippings from entering the City’s stormwater system via catch basins in the road.

• picking up pet waste so it doesn’t wash into the stormwater system.

You might also see floating plants, like duckweed and watermeal, which are often mistaken for algae. When they cover 30 per cent or less of a stormwater pond, they can benefit the pond by shading the water, cooling the temperature and absorbing nutrients that would otherwise feed algae, leading to algae growth.

Enjoy stormwater ponds from a safe distance

While vegetation has its place in and around stormwater ponds, people do not! These ponds may look safe for fishing, swimming or playing around, but they are not made for recreational use. Keep a safe distance away. The ponds are designed to temporarily hold untreated water before releasing it slowly back into the environment at a controlled rate. This process means water constantly flows in and out of the ponds, so water levels are always changing, making any activity in or around them unsafe. 

To learn even more about Vaughan’s stormwater ponds, visit vaughan.ca/stormwater. 

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