Stay Clear, Stay Safe
Hydroelectric Dams and Stations are NOT Safe Places for Recreation
There are dangers in coming too close to hydroelectric dams and stations. A spot
that looks calm and safe one moment can become dangerous within a few seconds as
water levels and flows change, often without warning. Calm waters or a dry riverbed
could change quickly into one with rapidly moving, dangerous waters.
Most hydroelectric dams and stations are remotely controlled by operators stationed
many kilometers away. Throughout the day and night, as demand for electricity rises
and falls operators open and close dams, and start and stop generating units. This
results in frequent and rapid changes in water levels and flows around dams and
generating stations, changes that can affect the safety of those who venture too
close.
Waters in the headponds above hydroelectric dams and stations and the waters below
them are particularly dangerous. At a generation station, water from the headpond
rushes into the station, turning large turbines that produce electricity. The water
rushes out of the station, to join the main stream of the river. At dams excess
water can be released through gates into formerly calm or dry riverbeds below. At
both dams and stations, the fast-moving water creates dangerous turbulence and strong
undercurrents.
Even if you can't see a generating station or dam, waterways upstream and downstream
can still be affected by their operations. It's important to be aware of the potential
dangers caused by changing water flows, and to stay clear of the waters near stations
and dams.
Hydroelectric dams and stations, and the areas around them are:
- NOT parks
- NOT fishing holes
- NOT boating areas
- NOT swimming areas
- NOT camping sites or picnic areas
- NOT snowmobile or X-Country Ski areas
- NOT safe places for recreation
Obey all warning signs. Symbols show the consequences of not staying clear.
For your own safety near a hydroelectric dam or station, make sure that you:
- Obey all warning signs, fences, buoys, booms and barriers. They are put there to
protect you. The areas inside are dangerous, stay clear of them.
- Stay a safe distance outside of warning signs, buoys, booms and barriers when fishing,
boating or swimming.
- Stay well back from the edge of waters above and below hydroelectric dams and stations
- Never stand below a dam, or anchor or tie your boat there. Rapidly changing water
levels and flows can take you by surprise and could swamp your boat or put you in
the grip of an undertow.
- Stay off hydroelectric dams or station structures, unless OPG has clearly indicated
walkways, or observation points.
- Stay well back of dry riverbeds below dams. They can quickly change into rapidly
flowing waterways.
- Stay well back from the edge of a waterway where footing may be slippery.
- Don’t wade into moving water.
- When swimming, fishing, boating or paddling in a river, be aware of the water level
and check upstream frequently for any sign of increasing currents or rising water
levels. If the water level is rising or the flow is speeding up, get out of the
water or move your boat downstream. Even when the hydroelectric dam or station is
out of sight, changing water levels and flows can take you by surprise, pulling
you into an undertow, leaving you stranded away from shore or swamping your boat.
- Set an example for children, who may not be aware of the dangers, even if they can
read. State explicitly where they can and cannot go and make sure you are close
to them and can see them at all times.
Winter poses additional dangers
Hydroelectric dams and stations operate all year round, 24 hours a day. Their operation
affects water flows and ice conditions. Ice that forms near a hydroelectric dam
or station can be thinner and more inconsistent than in other locations because
of the changing water flows beneath it.
- Avoid snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, skating or ice fishing on rivers or lakes
near dams and generating stations.
- Don’t risk walking onto a river or lake where the ice may be thin due to the
current or where changing water levels have pushed water on top of the ice.
We take pride in operating our facilities safely and in a manner that respects the
environment and the rights of other users of the waterways. Your safety is important
to us. Please respect the hazards near our dams and stations, and heed warning signs,
booms buoys and barriers. They are there for your protection.
For more information about safety around hydroelectric dams and stations, to obtain
a free video, or freeinteractive CD-ROM for children, visit
www.opg.com
When opened, remotely operated dam gates can quickly turn a calm or dry riverbed into one with dangerous flows.
The same spot just minutes later. Remotely operated dam gates release large volumes of water that could swamp your boat or put you in the grip of an undertow
These anglers are in a dangerous spot and should not be there. Areas inside warning signs, buoys and booms are dangerous, stay clear of them
The area between booms and dams is very dangerous. Stay clear–obey all warning booms, buoys, signs and barriers.
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