About Mimico Creek Watershed How You Can Help
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About Mimico Creek Conservation Eff orts How You Can Help Watershed Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) works THE ETOBICOKE-MIMICO WATERSHEDS with many partners to ensure the Toronto urban COALITION region is built on a natural foundation of healthy The Etobicoke-Mimico Watersheds Coalition (Coalition) rivers and shorelines, greenspace and biodiversity, is a volunteer, watershed-wide advisory committee and sustainable communities. Th e Etobicoke-Mimico created by Toronto and Region Conservation to protect Watersheds Coalition, a committee of TRCA that and regenerate the Etobicoke Creek and Mimico Creek includes local government, businesses, colleges watersheds. Through The Living City vision, the and universities, and residents, works with the Coalition strives to achieve healthy rivers and shorelines, community to help achieve these objectives. regional biodiversity, and sustainable communities. Th e Coalition’s work is guided by a watershed strategy GET INVOLVED called Greening Our Watersheds - Revitalization Here are four easy ways to get involved: Strategies for Etobicoke and Mimico Creeks. Th e strategy helps residents, local businesses, • LEARN more about the Mimico Creek watershed and environmental advocates, educators, elected programs by visiting www.trca.on.ca/emcreeks The watershed is dominated by urban land uses, representatives and staff at all levels of government • JOIN one of the Coalition’s project teams in your area resulting in a “flashy” response to rainfall events. make a diff erence in the health of the watershed. Mimico Creek winds its way through parts of • REGISTER for an event or volunteer opportunity at Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto. It is a long, Th e Etobicoke and Mimico Creeks Watersheds Report www.trcastewardshipevents.ca narrow and relatively steep watershed with a total Card was published by TRCA and the Coalition area of approximately 77 km² (7,700 ha). The in 2006. Th e state of these watersheds is an important • DONATE to The Living City Foundation to support headwaters of the creek are located in the City of measure of environmental health in the Greater conservation projects at www.trca.on.ca/support or Brampton south of Bovaird Drive on the south slope Toronto Area (GTA). It identifi es problems with call 416-667-6279 of the Oak Ridges Moraine. water quality and water fl ows, natural cover, and air quality, all of which have resulted from the absence of BBECOMEECOME A NNEIGHBOURHOODEIGHBOURHOOD CCHAMPIONHAMPION This means that when rain falls on the ground, it environmental priorities in urban development. Th e travels overland and reaches the watercourse quickly. report card also demonstrates that although progress Here are just a few ways to make a difference: Therefore, water levels within the watercourse can has been made towards restoration, further action is also rise quickly. As a result, there is too little water required to improve environmental health over the • Install a rain barrel to capture and reuse (or baseflow) in dry weather, and too much water (or next 20 years. To view a copy of the watershed strategy the water in your yard. Save water and peak flow) when it rains. Water quality is generally or report card online, please visit our resources section money on your water bill. poor and there is a low diversity of aquatic and at www.trca.on.ca/emcreeks terrestrial habitats. • Expand bird habitat in your Community Stewardship and Education neighbourhood with community About 500 ha of the watershed comprise parks, TRCA off ers events across the Mimico watershed to gardens, backyard plantings, or conservation areas and trails that provide important help people contribute to the health of the watershed environmentally friendly landscaping. opportunities for recreation, wildlife and habitat through everyday actions. Programs include healthy • Plant native trees and shrubs in your restoration. home and garden sessions, nature walks, planting and backyard or volunteer for community clean-up activities and hands-on demonstrations. tree planting events. Th rough these programs DID YOU KNOW? people are discovering how • Phantom power is costing you money The name “Mimico” comes from the small community eff orts Visit our website for more information - about 5% of your total household Algonkian word “Omimeca” meaning can collectively make big electricity. Plug your appliances into a “resting place of wild pigeons”. The now about the Mimico Creek watershed improvements to the health of power bar and simply turn it off when extinct passenger pigeon used the mouth www.trca.on.ca/emcreeks their local environment. you are not using them. This could save of Mimico Creek as a migratory stopover. you up to $60 a year on electricity from your television alone! Mimico Creek Watershed Upper Mimico Creek Channel Naturalization What is a Watershed? As part of an ongoing eff ort to restore natural ecosystems, TRCA renaturalized a 2 km stretch of Mimico Creek. Th e A watershed is the area of land that catches rain and project enhanced wildlife habitat, restored aquatic and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, terrestrial ecosystems, improved water quality and helped lake or groundwater. Watersheds are the collectors, mitigate potential fl ood events. Building on this success, fi lters, conveyers, and storage compartments of our the project will be extended further north to continue fresh water supply. revitalizing the creek valley. TRCA JURISDICTION Mimico Fish Barrier Mitigation Project Partners in Project Green Currently in the planning stages, the Mimico Creek Fish Partners in Project Green: A Pearson Eco-Business Barrier Mitigation Project focuses on the removal of Zone is a public-private partnership working to create the fi rst barrier on the Mimico Creek located under the an internationally recognized Eco-Business Zone Gardner Expressway. Th e project is critical to restore around Pearson airport, supported by the TRCA, fi sh movement within the watercourse and improve area municipalities, and the Greater Toronto Airports habitat opportunities. Authority (GTAA). Visit www.partnersinprojectgreen.com for more information. Cross section of a watershed. Courtesy of Conservation Ontario. For more information on how to join a project team or to volunteer, contact us at [email protected] Mimico Creek Estuary In an eff ort to re-establish a unique and critical natural environment on the waterfront, TRCA developed the Mimico Creek Estuary Wetland Project. Located at the mouth of Mimico Creek, the constructed wetland 5 Shoreham Drive has enhanced the health of the Mimico waterfront by Downsview ON providing fi sh and wildlife habitat. M3N 1S4 www.trca.on.ca.