The Don River
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3131 Lower Don River West Lower Don River West 4.0 DESCRIPTION
Lower Don River West Environmental Study Report Remedial Flood Protection Project 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF LOWER DON 4.1 The Don River Watershed The Don River is one of more than sixty rivers and streams flowing south from the Oak Ridges Moraine. The River is approximately 38 km long and outlets into the Keating Channel, which then conveys the flows into Toronto Harbour and Lake Historic Watershed Ontario. The entire drainage basin of the Don urbanization of the river's headwaters in York River is 360 km2. Figure 4.1 and Figure 4.2, on the Region began in the early 1980s and continues following pages, describe the existing and future today. land use conditions within the Don River Watershed. Hydrologic changes in the watershed began when settlers converted the forests to agricultural fields; For 200 years, the Don Watershed has been many streams were denuded even of bank side subject to intense pressures from human vegetation. Urban development then intensified settlement. These have fragmented the river the problems of warmer water temperatures, valley's natural branching pattern; degraded and erosion, and water pollution. Over the years often destroyed its once rich aquatic and during the three waves of urban expansion, the terrestrial wildlife habitat; and polluted its waters Don River mouth, originally an extensive delta with raw sewage, industrial/agricultural marsh, was filled in and the lower portion of the chemicals, metals and other assorted river was straightened. contaminants. Small Don River tributaries were piped and Land clearing, settlement, and urbanization have buried, wetlands were "reclaimed," and springs proceeded in three waves in the Don River were lost. -
Executive Summary and Table of Contents.Pub
Appendix A: References Aquafor Beech Limited. 2007. Markham Erosion Restoration Implementation Plan. Final Report. Prepared for Town of Markham. June 30, 2007. Aquafor Beech Limited. 2008. Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Manual. Draft. November 2008. Prepared for Credit Valley Conservation and Toronto and Region Conservation. Canada. 2009. Speech from the Throne to Open the Second Session of the Fortieth Parliament of Canada. January 26, 2009. Center for Watershed Protection. 2003. Impacts of Impervious Cover on Aquatic Systems. Watershed Protection Research Monograph No. 1. City of Toronto. 2003. Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan Overview and 25 Year Implementation Plan. City of Toronto. 2006. Wet Weather Flow Management Guidelines. Toronto, Ontario. City of Vaughan. 2008. City of Vaughan Stormwater Management Retrofit Study. Prepared by Aquafor Beech Limited. Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), and Toronto and Region Conserva- tion Authority (TRCA). 2002. Watershed Management in Ontario: Lessons Learned and Best Practices. Credit Valley Conservation and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). 2007. Evaluation, Classification and Management of Headwater Drainage Features: Interim Guidelines. March, 2007. Department of Finance Canada. 2009. Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Budget 2009. January 27, 2009. Freeman Associates. 2006. Action Plan for Sustainable Practices—Implementation Strategies for the Residential and Busineess Sectors in the Greater Toronto Area. Greater Golden Horseshoe Area Conservation Authorities (GGHACA). 2006. Erosion and Sediment Control Guideline for Urban Construction. Hemson Consulting Ltd. January 2005. The Growth Outlook for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Toronto, Ontario. Marshall Macklin Monaghan Limited (MMM). 2003. Toronto Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan. Area 4: Don River (Separated Sewer Subwatersheds). -
The Fish Communities of the Toronto Waterfront: Summary and Assessment 1989 - 2005
THE FISH COMMUNITIES OF THE TORONTO WATERFRONT: SUMMARY AND ASSESSMENT 1989 - 2005 SEPTEMBER 2008 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to thank the many technical staff, past and present, of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Ministry of Natural Resources who diligently collected electrofishing data for the past 16 years. The completion of this report was aided by the Canada Ontario Agreement (COA). 1 Jason P. Dietrich, 1 Allison M. Hennyey, 1 Rick Portiss, 1 Gord MacPherson, 1 Kelly Montgomery and 2 Bruce J. Morrison 1 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, ON, M3N 1S4, Canada 2 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Lake Ontario Fisheries Management Unit, Glenora Fisheries Station, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0, Canada © Toronto and Region Conservation 2008 ABSTRACT Fish community metrics collected for 16 years (1989 — 2005), using standardized electrofishing methods, throughout the greater Toronto region waterfront, were analyzed to ascertain the current state of the fish community with respect to past conditions. Results that continue to indicate a degraded or further degrading environment include an overall reduction in fish abundance, a high composition of benthivores, an increase in invasive species, an increase in generalist species biomass, yet a decrease in specialist species biomass, and a decrease in cool water Electrofishing in the Toronto Harbour thermal guild species biomass in embayments. Results that may indicate a change in a positive community health direction include no significant changes to species richness, a marked increase in diversity in embayments, a decline in non-native species in embayments and open coasts (despite the invasion of round goby), a recent increase in native species biomass, fluctuating native piscivore dynamics, increased walleye abundance, and a reduction in the proportion of degradation tolerant species. -
Sec 2-Core Circle
TRANSFORMATIVE IDEA 1. THE CORE CIRCLE Re-imagine the valleys, bluffs and islands encircling the Downtown as a fully interconnected 900-hectare immersive landscape system THE CORE CIRLE 30 THE CORE CIRLE PUBLIC WORK 31 TRANSFORMATIVE IDEA 1. THE CORE CIRCLE N The Core Circle re-imagines the valleys, bluffs and islands E encircling the Downtown as a fully connected 900-hectare immersive landscape system W S The Core Circle seeks to improve and offer opportunities to reconnect the urban fabric of the Downtown to its surrounding natural features using the streets, parks and open spaces found around the natural setting of Downtown Toronto including the Don River Valley and ravines, Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands, Garrison Creek and the Lake Iroquois shoreline. Connecting these large landscape features North: Davenport Road Bluff, Toronto, Canada will create a continuous circular network of open spaces surrounding the Downtown, accessible from both the core and the broader city. The Core Circle re- imagines the Downtown’s framework of valleys, bluffs and islands as a connected 900-hectare landscape system and immersive experience, building on Toronto’s strong identity as a ‘city within a park’ and providing opportunities to acknowledge our natural setting and connect to the history of our natural landscapes. East: Don River Valley Ravine and Rosedale Valley Ravine, Toronto, Canada Historically, the natural landscape features that form the Core Circle were used by Indigenous peoples as village sites, travelling routes and hunting and gathering lands. They are regarded as sacred landscapes and places for spiritual renewal. The Core Circle seeks to re-establish our connection to these landscapes. -
Regulars Features 9 10 11 15
Number 550 October 2007 Monarchs on Goldenrod, Drawing by Eva Davis REGULARS FEATURES Coming Events 19 For Reading 14 Website Update 9 From the Archives 17 Keeping in Touch 13 Red -eared Slider in Toronto 10 Monthly Meetings Notice 3 Ecology Tidbits 11 Monthly Meeting Report 7 Outings Report Extracts 8 For the Birds 15 President’s Report 6 TFN Outings 4 Weather 18 TFN 550-2 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2007 Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field BOARD OF DIRECTORS Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of President Pinky Franklin which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and Vice President Wendy Rothwell to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued Sec.-Treasurer Corley Phillips monthly September to December and February to May. Nature Reserves George Bryant Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Communications Alexander Cappell of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. Monthly lectures Nick Eyles Outings ) Gail Gregory ISSN 0820-636X ) Ruth Munson Web-master Margaret McRae Barry Mitchell IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! Peter Money We welcome contributions of original writing, up to 500 Robert Kortright words, of observations on nature in and around Toronto, reviews, poems, sketches, paintings, and photographs of MEMBERSHIP FEES TFN outings (digital or print, include date and place). $30 STUDENT, SENIOR SINGLE (65+) Include your name, address and phone number so $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+) $50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) submissions can be acknowledged. Send by mail or email. Deadline for submissions for November issue: Oct. -
Don Summary Rearranged.Pub
DON RIVER WATERSHED PLAN BEYOND FORTY STEPS Executive Summary and Introduction to the Implementation Guide 2009 Prepared by: Toronto and Region Conservation Acknowledgements This Don River Watershed Plan (DRWP), prepared under the direction of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the Don Watershed Regeneration Council, represents the combined effort of many participants. Appreciation and thanks are extended to the writer William Glenn; to Mark Schollen for his concept site designs; to the members of the Don Watershed Regeneration Council; the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority staff and consultants and to the members of the Mu- nicipal Technical Advisory Committee, as listed in Appendices C, D and E of the Don River Water- shed Plan , reprinted as Appendix 1 in this document. For full details, please refer to and reference: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 2009. Don River Watershed Plan. All photography © Toronto and Region Conservation 2009 unless otherwise specified. The data used to create all maps in this document were compiled from a variety of sources and dates. The TRCA takes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the data and retains the right to make changes and corrections at anytime without notice. For further information about the data on these maps, please contact the TRCA GIS Department at (416) 661-6600. All maps created by: Information Systems/Information Technology. www.trca.on.ca 5 Shoreham Drive Toronto, Ontario M3N 1S4 Phone: 416-661-6600 Fax: 416-661-6898 Table of Contents . Executive -
Don River and Central Waterfront
Cleaning Up Our Waterways: “Update” The ‘Don River and Central Waterfront’ Project and The ‘Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant outfall’ Focus of projects : “Lower Don River and Toronto’s Inner Harbour” & “Ashbridges Bay ” For Nov 14 2016 RAP Science Forum Presented by Dr Bill Snodgrass ,Dr Jian Lei, Susan Atlin , and Grace Lin Toronto Water City of Toronto 1 Key Actions for Delisting (supported by C of T projects) 1. Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae • Continue to support upgrades to the City of Toronto’s Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant including the construction of a high rate treatment facility, a treatment wetland, and a new outflow pipe extension with diffusers (2016-2020) • 2. Beach Closures • Continue to support the planning, design and implementation of the City of Toronto’s Don River and Central Waterfront Combined Sewer Overflow Project (2016 to 2020) • Continue Toronto Health Department monitoring of bacterial levels at all waterfront beaches during the June to September swimming season (2016-2020) • Continue to support the City of Toronto and Environmental Defence’s Blue Flag Beach Program (2016-2020) • Continue to support the City of Toronto’s Beaches Plan which includes beach grooming (2016- 2020) 2 Don & Central Waterfront Project 3 WWFMP Implementation (See Significant progress that has been made in 2015 RAP Update [ Sect. 3.2, 4.2, and Chap 5]) • Public Outreach and Education • Source control (LID) measures: (Hierarchy Principle) • Municipal operations: • Conveyance control: (Hierarchy Principle) • Basement Flooding Protection -
Lower Don Trail Access, Environment + Art Master Plan
Lower Don Trail Access, Environment + Art Master Plan City of Toronto and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority / 2013 Lower Don Trail Access, Environment + Art Master Plan Prepared for: City of Toronto Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Prepared by: DTAH Project Lead, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design AECOM Ecology, Transportation, Civil Engineering Public Space Workshop Trail Connectivity LURA Consultation Andrew Davies Design Public Art SPH Planning + Consulting Accessibility September 2013 With special thanks to the staff of TRCA and the City of Toronto Parks, Transportation, Culture and Planning Departments. Thanks also to Metrolinx, Evergreen, and those members of the public who attended the open house session or contacted us with their comments on the future of the Lower Don Trail. “As the years go on and the population increases, there will be a need of these and more lands, and in life where so much appears futile, this one thing will remain. In essence, those who continue to support the work of conservation can say, I have lived here, I have done something positive to ensure that its natural beauty and natural values continue.” – Charles Sauriol (1904-1995), local resident and lifelong advocate for conservation in the Don Valley. Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 1 / Introduction 1.1 Background 3 1.2 Problem Statement, Goals and Context 6 1.3 Recommended Design Principles 7 2 / Process 2.1 Project Timeline 9 2.2 Existing Conditions 10 2.3 Previous Studies 12 2.4 SWOT Analysis 13 2.5 Public Consultation -
The Toronto Ravines Study: 1977-2017 Long-Term Changes in the Biodiversity and Ecological Integrity of Toronto’S Ravines
The Toronto Ravines Study: 1977-2017 Long-term Changes in the Biodiversity and Ecological Integrity of Toronto’s Ravines Eric Davies, Anqi Dong, Catherine Berka, Paul Scrivener, Dale Taylor, Sandy M Smith Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto - July 2018 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report would not have come into being without the work of the many individuals who dedicated endless volunteer hours to its realization. Our thanks to: The originators of the 1977 study, our co-authors Paul Scrivener and Dale Taylor, for sticking with the project over the past 40 years, and for getting it going again. Dale and Paul provided the team with a real-life example of ‘citizen science’ in action, and a generational timeline to the past. They made this project an adventure for all of us. Good stewardship of the land is a lifelong affair, and Dale and Paul have exemplified that commitment beyond all expectations. Esther McNeil for walking into the University of Toronto, Faculty of Forestry six years ago and asking: “How can I help save the Toronto ravines?” Esther inspired us to start working in the Toronto ravines, which ultimately led to this project, this report, and a renewed interest in ravine conservation. Catherine Berka for jumping with two feet into this project from day one, and for providing an endless source of positivity, leadership, humour, community outreach, and every day hard work. The project would simply not be what it is today without the heart and soul of our other co-author, Catherine. This project has benefited tremendously from the expertise, cooperation, and guidance of many people, especially in The City of Toronto, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, local nature groups, and countless citizens. -
A Time for Bold Steps
A TIME FOR BOLD STEPS: THE DON WATERSHED REPORT CARD 2OOO Prepared By The Don Watershed Regeneration Council Front cover: Drawing of proposed mouth of the Don River, prepared for The Task Force to Bring Back the Don, by Hough Woodland Naylor Dance Leinster, February 2000. Facing page: Gray treefrog. D2repcar.qxd 11/3/2002 7:53 PM Page I A TIME FOR BOLD STEPS THE DON WATERSHED REPORT CARD 2000 Prepared By The Don Watershed Regeneration Council Renewing and protecting the natural environment in our living city and region. D2repcar.qxd 11/3/2002 7:53 PM Page II ISBN 0-9684992-4-4 II D2repcar.qxd 11/3/2002 7:53 PM Page III CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . .IV CARING FOR WATER . .1 Indicator 1: Flow Pattern . .4 Indicator 2: Water Quality - Human Use . .6 Indicator 3: Water Quality - Aquatic Habitats . .8 Indicator 4: Stormwater Management . .12 CARING FOR NATURE . .14 Indicator 5: Woodlands . .16 Indicator 6: Wetlands . .18 Indicator 7: Meadows . .20 Indicator 8: Riparian Habitat . .22 Indicator 9: Frogs . .24 Indicator 10: Fish . .26 CARING FOR COMMUNITY . .28 Indicator 11: Public Understanding and Support . .30 Indicator 12: Classroom Education . .32 Indicator 13: Responsible Use and Enjoyment . .34 PROTECT WHAT IS HEALTHY . .36 Indicator 14: Protected Natural Areas . .38 REGENERATE WHAT IS DEGRADED . .40 Indicator 15: Regeneration Projects . .42 TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DON . .44 Indicator 16: Personal Stewardship . .46 Indicator 17: Business and Institutional Stewardship . .48 Indicator 18: Municipal Stewardship . .50 GLOSSARY . .52 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . .56 TABLES Table 1 - A Water Quality Index . .6 Maps Invertebrate Sampling Stations . .8 Frog Monitoring Stations . -
Fertile Ground for New Thinking Improving Toronto’S Parks
Fertile Ground for New Thinking Improving Toronto’s Parks David Harvey September 2010 Metcalf Foundation The Metcalf Foundation helps Canadians imagine and build a just, healthy, and creative society by supporting dynamic leaders who are strengthening their communities, nurturing innovative approaches to persistent problems, and encouraging dialogue and learning to inform action. Metcalf Innovation Fellowship The Metcalf Innovation Fellowship gives people of vision the opportunity to investigate ideas, models, and practices with the potential to lead to transformational change. David Harvey David Harvey has many decades of experience managing environmental and municipal issues in government and in politics. Most recently he served as Senior Advisor to the Premier of Ontario, working to develop, implement and communicate the Ontario Government’s agenda in the areas of environment, natural resources, and municipal affairs. He played a key leadership role in many aspects of the Ontario Government's progressive agenda, including the 1.8 million acre Greenbelt, the GTA Growth Plan, the City of Toronto Act and the Go Green Climate Action Plan. He was awarded a Metcalf Innovation Fellowship in 2010. Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................. 4 Introduction – Parks and the City........................................................................... 8 “Parks” and “the City”.........................................................................................10 -
Humber River Fisheries Management Plan
Humber River FFiisshheerriieess MMaannaaggeemmeenntt PPllaann A cooperative resource management plan developed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority October 2004 Correct citation for this publication: Clayton, J., Hayes K., Heaton, M. G. and, Lawrie, D. 2004. Humber River Fisheries Management Plan. Published by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. i PREFACE A number of federal, provincial and regional strategies exist to guide watershed management and habitat protection and rehabilitation. At a federal level, the Toronto and Region Remedial Action Plan (RAP) was established in accordance with the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and identified the Toronto and Region Area of Concern (AOCs) as one of 43 AOCs around the Great Lakes. The Stage I RAP document identifies types and sources of water pollution problems, and outlines goals, remedial actions, agencies, costs, timetables and monitoring programs. Stage II provides a framework for guiding more local initiatives, such as fisheries rehabilitation. The Humber River Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) provides direction on three RAP goals and actions: Goal 2a) a self sustaining fishery Goal 2b) rehabilitation of fish and wildlife habitat Action 21) protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat Implementation of RAP recommendations, in conjunction with the recommendations of watershed based rehabilitation plans, will eventually lead to the delisting of watersheds within the Toronto and Region Area of Concern. Provincial fisheries management plans that set the context for the Humber River Fisheries Management Plan include the Strategic Plan for Ontario Fisheries (SPO F II) and the Maple District Fisheries Management Plan.