Tree maintenance along Elora Cataract Trailway will result in temporary closures

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is undertaking tree maintenance along the Elora Cataract Trailway in Wellington County over the next six weeks. The work will result in intermittent closures of sections of the trail during this time. The first closure, between Gartshore Street and Belwood Lake will occur between December 2-17. Updated closures will be posted in the Service Disruptions section of the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca.

Trail closure signs will be posted on sections of the trail where the work will be occurring, and access will not be permitted. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. while the work is underway and to obey all posted signage so that crews may complete the work safely.

The maintenance work will include the removal of approximately 1,500 hazard trees along the trail. Most of the trees are small diameter, dead or dying Ash species which have been affected by emerald ash borer and pose a risk to the public. Left unmanaged, these hazard trees have the potential to fall, impacting trail users and infrastructure. In addition to hazard tree removal, clearance pruning will be undertaken to help improve the trail user experience and provide additional clearance for trail maintenance equipment.

Where possible, trees that are removed as part of this maintenance work will be chipped or left on the forest floor where they will form new habitat and enrich the soil in the area as they decay. 

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Media contact:

Cam Linwood, GRCA Supervisor, Strategic Communications
Phone 519-621-2763 x2251  |  Email clinwood@grandriver.ca