A few weeks ago online message boards around Strathmore lit up about the possibility of skating on some of the canals around town.

The irrigation canals in the Strathmore area are operated by the Western Irrigation District (WID).

We reached out to the WID, which is headquartered in Strathmore, to find out why it might not be such a great idea to convert canals into skating surfaces.

According to Dan Shute, the WID’s Board Chair, “It’s great to see people wanting to get outside and enjoy skating throughout the winter. Unfortunately, the canal winding through Strathmore is not a good place for that to happen.”

The WID team has provided a few reasons why skating cannot take place on the canals.

First, because of the water level.

Shute explains that, “In fall each year, the level of water in the canals throughout the WID are lowered. To get down into the canal would be quite an effort, the banks are fairly steep. We cannot allow water to be added into the canal in the winter as building up more ice can interfere with water flow in the spring. This could cause an interruption in service to our irrigators, and also lead to a rush of water that may be dangerous.”

In terms of public safety and liability, the WID strongly discourages anyone from entering the canals for safety reasons, including local irrigators.

“To allow access at some times of the year and not at others may lead to confusion and safety issues in water season. For example, residents may increasingly see that ‘if we can skate on the canal in the winter, why can’t we swim in it during the summer?’ Shute says.

The Board Chair notes that, “The canals are not built to be accessed. There are no stairs, ramps or other access points. The WID makes considerable efforts every season to repair and maintain canals throughout the district, to ensure the irrigation infrastructure functions as it should during the water season. Accessing and using for a purpose other than they are designed can cause damage.”

Shute says, “We absolutely look for opportunities to contribute to the enjoyment of our community, and work with the Town to provide access where we can. A few examples are the off-leash park and archery area where the WID donates use of the land to the Town and the club, and the year-round use of the canal banks for walking and cycling.”

While the daytime temperature seems to be warming up as we get closer to Christmas Day, there are a number of other places to enjoy the outdoor skating experience. The Lions Outdoor Rink and the outdoor rink at Terry Ray Clarke Park are both open to the public.