City Shares Spring Update for Millennium Park & Ponds
The City of Castlegar plans to implement changes to reduce the factors that can contribute to algae blooms at Millennium Park & Ponds this season. This includes enhanced monitoring of pond conditions and targeted operational adjustments to support enjoyable, visually appealing ponds for park visitors.
Park users may notice some changes when the ponds open for the May long weekend. These include:
- The upper pond, the shallowest of the three, will be temporarily taken out of service for the 2026 season, as its shallow depth makes it more conducive to algae growth. This will allow the City to focus on operational adjustments in the remaining ponds and evaluate their effectiveness over the season.
- The City will reimplement measures to manage resident Canada geese in the park. This includes the installation of flagging above the ponds to act as a visual obstacle for waterfowl, and the reintroduction of a dog handling team to help discourage geese from settling in the park area. This humane and carefully managed method is designed to reduce waterfowl presence and associated impacts on sports fields and pond water quality.
- Sanded beach areas will be groomed to help provide a clean and enjoyable experience.
Any wildlife management measures implemented will align with applicable federal and provincial regulations, including the Migratory Birds Convention Act, and will be guided by Environment and Climate Change Canada resources.
“Millennium Park & Ponds is one of Castlegar’s most loved community spaces, and our goal is to keep it clean and enjoyable for everyone,” says Ryan Niddery, Acting Director of Municipal Services. “By taking a proactive approach to monitoring and operations, the City is working to better understand pond conditions and reduce factors that can contribute to seasonal algae growth.”
Due to the natural state of the ponds, visitors may notice algae which is a naturally occurring aquatic plant. While it may affect appearance, it is not harmful to people, and it does not indicate poor water quality. Water quality is tested weekly during the operating season, and results are posted to the City’s website.
In Photo: Millennium Ponds with reestablished flagging (April 30, 2026)
Civic Works