New fence erected at Trenton's Dam 1 after high number of drownings

By Marc Venema

TRENTON, Ont. (13/06/2012) Brad Graham, Lockmaster of Lock 1 in Trenton stands in front of the newly erected fencing at Dam 1. Over the past 24 years, nine people have been killed in surrounding waters. The sign has yet to be updated after two deaths last year brought the total number from seven to nine. Photo by Marc Venema.

A new fence designed to keep swimmers away from a Trenton dam that’s been linked to nine deaths over the past 24 years is now in place.

“We worked with the City of Quinte West and erected some fencing and some new signage to keep people off that dam,” said Dawn Bronson, the Central Ontario field unit superintendent for Parks Canada.

“These are not places for recreation,” Bronson said. “These are industrial locations and they’re very dangerous to be around.”

“When water flows over a dam, there’s a back current,” Bronson said. “If you get caught in that, the strongest swimmer cannot get out, you get trapped and you drown.”

To keep people away from the dam, a 10-foot fence with barbed wire along the top was installed at the location where people were getting in.

Last year, the dam claimed the lives of two people, a 16-year-old boy and a 30-year-old man.

“Any death is one too many,” Bronson said.

Bronson said Parks Canada got together with provincial police and the City of Quinte West after last year’s deaths and decided, “it was time to take another step.”

“We know by taking that step, there are people who have used that dam for recreation and they’re not going to be pleased that they don’t have access to it anymore but we are hoping they understand.”

Brad Graham is the Lockmaster of Lock 1 in Trenton. He said he’s already spoken with a few anglers.

“The fishermen are alright with it, they understand,” Graham said. “I’ve had a few discussions to let them know why we are doing this and they’re okay with it.”

Graham said the problem stems from kids using the dam as a shortcut to get from one side of the waterway to the other.

“It’s an access route from A to B,” Graham said. “They also like to come around and swim, and it’s no place for swimmers.”

Both Bronson and Graham admit that people who want in will find a way, but they say the fence sends a message to those who insist on swimming there.

“You can’t stop everybody,” Bronson said, “If you’re wanting to get in and on that dam, you’re going to do that but we are sending a message that this is not a place of recreation.”

“We are trying to make a statement of ‘stay off the dams’,” Graham said.

Bronson said the Trent-Severn Waterway has 150 dams, not all of them are fenced.

Graham said he hopes to see every one of them fenced in the future.