News

The GRCA has launched a new tool to provide guests visiting Grand River Parks for the day with real-time information about the capacity at its parks, helping them to better plan their visits.

Visitors can now check www.grandriver.ca/parkstatus to find out if a park is welcoming visitors or if it has reached its daily capacity. The site provides real-time updates regarding the status of each park.

Water users throughout the Grand River watershed are being asked to cut their consumption by 10 per cent, because of the hot, dry weather.

Rainfall in June was sporadic with extended dry periods, and for the past ten days there has been almost no measurable rainfall in the Grand River watershed.

The GRCA will reopen additional programs and amenities in its Grand River Parks beginning in July.

Starting July 10, select Grand River Parks including Brant, Byng Island, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake, Pinehurst Lake and Rockwood conservation areas will offer limited overnight camping.

In order to minimize the hazard tree risks presented by the decline of ash trees due to emerald ash borer (EAB), the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is maintaining the closure of a number of properties to the public.

The GRCA has begun to open gatehouses, beaches and some washrooms in most of its conservation areas.

The Ontario government recently announced more businesses and services are permitted to reopen, provided that the proper health and safety measures are in place.

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has closed Belwood Lake, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake and Rockwood conservation areas and will reopen them again on Monday, June 15.

Brant, Byng Island, Conestogo Lake, Laurel Creek, Pinehurst Lake and Shade’s Mills conservation areas, as well as Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, are not impacted by this temporary closure.

On Saturday, June 6, several Grand River Parks experienced significant challenges with visitors who were not following rules and respecting restrictions and closures. GRCA staff reported people not respecting area closures, people on beaches and people not practicing appropriate physical distancing measures.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the GRCA has made the decision to cancel its day camps for the summer of 2020. 

The GRCA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, and follow the guidance of federal and provincial governments and public health authorities in Ontario.

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has added five more conservation areas to the list of properties it has been able to reopen this month since government restrictions in response to COVID-19 forced the closure of all GRCA owned and managed properties in March.

On May 20, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) announced the next stages of its reopening plan for GRCA owned and managed parks, trails and natural areas.

This Saturday, May 23, Belwood Lake (Fergus), Conestogo Lake (Wallenstein), Guelph Lake (Guelph) and Rockwood (Rockwood) conservation areas will reopen for limited recreational activities.