With continued snowmelt and rising waters, the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) advises against boating and all other water activities on the Bow and Elbow Rivers, effective immediately.
The Bow River has exceeded safe recommended flow rates for boating, floating or swimming and it expected that the Elbow River will continue to rise over the weekend with an incoming rain event.
While The City’s Environmental Risk and Resilience team has advised that widespread overbank flooding is not anticipated, localized flooding remains possible and high flow rates may continue, making conditions on and near the river dangerous.
Pathways near the river may continue to be affected. Water temperature remains cold and with the higher flow rates water turbidity is increased, making hazards difficult to see.
“For the safety of river users and emergency responders, the Calgary Fire Department advises everyone to stay off the Bow and the Elbow Rivers until safer conditions return and the boating advisory is lifted,” says Alex Kwan, CFD’s Public Information Officer.
“We know that Calgarians love their rivers, yet we also know that when our waterways flow this high and fast, there’s significant risk to anyone, regardless of your watercraft or skill level. Those walking near our City’s rivers, including people with pets, should exercise caution as well.”
Along with turbidity and debris, conditions for a Calgary Fire Department boating advisory include Bow River flow rates exceeding 280 cubic metres per second above the Elbow River confluence. Calgary Fire and its Aquatics Team will continue to monitor Calgary’s waterways while the advisory is in place and will notify Calgarians when the boating advisory is removed.
It is important for Calgarians near the river to be careful due to high flow levels. Calgarians are urged to:
-Exercise caution around riverbanks as fast-moving water can cause erosion and destabilization.
-Warn their children about the dangers of fast-moving water, particularly those residents who live near the rivers.
-Cyclists and pedestrians should watch for low-lying areas where the river can submerge the pathways.
-Keep pets away from fast moving water.
Visit calgary.ca/watersafety for more information as well as calgary.ca/flood for the latest information on river conditions. Visit calgary.ca/pathwayclosures for up-to-date information on pathway closures.
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