Dam safety on the radar of public officials

The photo on the right, taken Aug. 16 2011, shows the vandalized sign on Dam 1 in Trenton. The photo on the left, taken Jan. 16 2012, shows the new sign which replaced the vandalized one. Dam 1 was the site of two drownings this past summer. Photos by Linda Horn

By Linda Horn

Most people are not thinking of swimming at Dam 1 in Trenton these days.

But public officials are following though on plans to make the dam safer and reeducate the public about dam safety to prevent future drownings after two people drowned there last summer.

Officials have replaced the sign on the dam. An education plan is being put in place for area students. There are plans to show a dam safety commercial at Quinte West city hall and the local movie theater. A fence for the west side of the dam is also being planned.

In the months following the drownings, Quinte West mayor John Williams and the Ontario Provincial Police met with Parks Canada to discuss what safety measures need to be taken at the dam.

One of the issues was signage. The sign at the dam was unreadable due to vandalism.

“Awareness is the issue and we want the signs,” said Williams.

Williams said Parks Canada was quick to respond and the sign was replaced with a larger red sign, warning people that there have been deaths at this dam and not to trespass.

Last summer Dawn Bronson, the Central Ontario field unit superintendent for Parks Canada, said they have had a problem with graffiti in the area.

Williams is keeping the graffiti problem in mind with new sign.

“The signs have to be clean. Even though it is Parks Canada property, the city is going to keep an eye on it. I will periodically send our guys out to see how it looks,” said Williams.

Another issue is reeducating the public about dam safety. Swimming at the dam has been a pastime in Trenton for generations.

Inspector Mike Reynolds, detachment commander for Quinte West, said the OPP plans to taking a proactive approach to providing education about dam safety.

There are plans in the works to go out to area schools and discuss dam safety. The Ontario Power Generation dam safety commercial will be played at city hall again this spring, and the OPP are still in talks to have the commercial played at the local theatre before a movie starts.

“We want to provide all people education about dam safety and its strong currents,” said Reynolds.

Reynolds also said that Trent-Severn waterway officials are planning on putting a fence on the west side of the day, but no date had been set for construction.

“We want to make sure our public is safe,” said Reynolds.