Although it may be tempting with the colder temperatures and making ice thicker, the message by the Town of Okotoks, Fire Services and Municipal Enforcement is simple, stay off storm retention ponds.

Due to the runoff of road salts into the ponds can make then very dangerous to those walking or even skating on them.

Okotoks Fire Chief Ken Thevenot says the ice on the storm ponds don't freeze like regular ponds.

"Our weather here is the biggest factor, with the freezing and thawing with the Chinooks that come in and just the way the storm ponds are setup due to the runoff from the road salts into the ponds, so with the road salts you'll see that the ice doesn't freeze properly," he says.

Thevenot says the levels of risks on those ponds even with a deep freeze is unpredictable.

"You get that runoff in those storm retention ponds some days people walk on those ponds, but other days when it's warming up a bit even in some areas on those ponds you'll see where it doesn't freeze at all during winter so its not consistent."

Thevenot says anyone who has stepped on the ponds may create a bigger risk for someone else who may also walk on the ponds.

"If you walk it today, you'll maybe creating a problem for someone tomorrow," he says. "that's our concern on going on the rivers or the storm ponds because the consistency is just not there with our weather patterns in town, I don't want to see us having to go out there to rescue someone."

A complete storm pond guide can be found here.

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