( E., Don Valley Pkwy.) WaOnce an active industrial l site k in the 19th century, Milne Hollow demonstrates how a natural greenspace, two railways and an expressway can coexist in an urban environment, yet give the feeling of being in the wilderness.

Public Transit: Getting there: The TTC 54 Lawrence East bus operates from the Eglinton subway station. Get off at Railside Road and walk 10 minutes down toward the on the south side of Lawrence Avenue East to enter Milne Welcome to Milne Hollow, is one of the oldest frame houses in 1 Hollow at Old Lawrence Avenue. a six-hectare park on the East . The house faces Old Lawrence Getting home: Catch the TTC 54 Lawrence East bus to return to the Eglinton subway . In 1850, this area was a Avenue as it detoured down the east station. thriving community of 16 buildings wall of the valley, wound through the *Public transit routes and schedules are subject to change. Please check with provider. TTC Information: www.ttc.ca or 416-393-4636. including houses, barns, a woolen mill, settlement, crossed the river and rose YRT Information: www.yrt.ca or 1-866-668-3978. a sawmill, a dry goods store, housing for up the west wall to rejoin the straight Parking: Two lots - The Sauriol lot is south off Lawrence Ave E at the Sauriol workers and several sheds. concession road. Miraculously, this sign. The Moccassin Trail Park lot is accessed off Road, turn east on house survived the 1878 flood and was In 1827, Alexander Milne built a three- Donway East, and south on Moccasin Trail. used until the 1960s. storey mill on Wilket Creek in , but because of a low water The two steel towers on the Level of Difficulty/Accessibility: All pathways are hard-surfaced with the 3 exception of the mown grass part in Moccasin Trail Park; however these points supply, relocated to this spot five years hillside are T-bar supports from (points 13 and 14) may be viewed from the paved path for stroller and wheelchair later. His second mill, near the parking the former Don Valley Ski Club. This accessibility. lot, was a long rambling one-storey slope was cleared for the 1934 building powered by a 15-foot overshot Championship Ski Meet that attracted Approximate Time: 1 to 2 hours. wheel. By 1861, Milneford (Milford) 10,000 spectators. Straw bales Mills produced over 2000 metres of protected skiers from crashing into cars cloth per year and almost 122,000 in the parking lot. By the early 1970s, Distance: 3.7 kilometres. metres of lumber. A devastating flood this area was abandoned once again. in 1878 swept away the mill-dam, logs We are in the Don Watershed, Caution: Be aware of cyclists and other trail users at all times. in the pond, both mills and the bridge. 4 a 360 square kilometre part of Use the trails at your own risk. Today, two cement abutments from the rebuilt bridge stand behind the pond as the GTA draining into the Don River and monuments to the past. its many tributaries. This watershed extends 38 km from its source in the Known as Milne House, this Oak Ridges Moraine to its mouth at the 2 gothic revival-style farmhouse, where it empties into built around 1865 for William Milne, Lake Ontario. In 1950, only 15% of the

1 Current as of July 2018 2 watershed was urban, whereas now, it 2005, when flash storms in both July allows the seeds to be carried great Above you is the active CPR 7 is over 80% that is urban. and August drenched the Watershed distances. Sadly, no single method or track, passing over the trail on a around , sending record combination of methods are able to high viaduct as it connects Toronto with During heavy storms, overflow water amounts of water through the ravines. eradicated Dog-strangling Vine. All Ottawa and beyond. This track is the from the East Don flows into Milne The July 2013 storm was the most we can hope for is the development same one that passes through Rosedale Stormwater Pond pond where it is costly in the history of the Don. Many of a biological control, but that will and near Summerhill at Yonge. held, naturally filtered and slowly millions of dollars were spent restoring take several years. In the meantime, released back into the river. Flood the bridges, channels and also the native plants, large and small, are being You now cross this new bridge control focuses on delaying the flow 8 fairways in the Donalda Golf Course smothered. to the west side of the river and of floodwater to prevent flooding and yes, there are salmon in the East Don, that’s one of the roles of these ponds. located immediately north of Lawrence Avenue. The far bank shows one In early spring, flowers of Garlic Mustard but only in the fall. Back in the early These Toronto Bird Flyway markers tell example of stabilization, an attempt to are seen throughout the valleys. 1800s, the Don teemed with Atlantic that this valley has been designated as reduce erosion of the bank. You will see However, Garlic Mustard grows very Salmon, but these were completely one of three Toronto flyway corridors other types of bank stabilization during quickly, especially in disturbed areas, depleted by anglers. In 1997, Chinook planted specifically to feed both the walk. and shades out slower growing native Salmon, a Pacific variety, was resident and migrating birds. Two plants. Clumps produce over 62,000 introduced to the Lower Don River near hundred kinds of birds pass through You are surrounded by invasive seeds per square metre. Attempts to Pottery Road and more recently to the 6 the Don Watershed each year, and 83 plants, species that are not eradicate this plant by hand-pulling has East Don River at Donalda Golf Course stay to breed. Birds migrate along green native to this area but have arrived limited success for the cut or pulled just the other side of Lawrence. Each corridors. through various means and now flowers can still form viable seed if left fall, usually in October, large Chinook reproduce so aggressively that they on the ground. All vegetation matter fight their way up past this stretch, Look out over the river. It was 5 displace native species. Non-native must be bagged, removed from the site traveling north of 7 up into not always here. Back 20,000 or alien species came from other and disposed of properly. . TRCA built rocky ramps to years ago, solid ice covered Ontario countries, possibly centuries ago. replace weirs that acted as barriers. to depths of one to two kilometres. The invasive grass is that tall erect While salmon head north to breed Because ice is of a plastic nature, it Buckthorn is a very fast growing bush plant you saw near the first pond. This then die, their trip is in vain because silt moves and pushes out at the bottom, adaptable to any condition. These is Phragmites or Giant Reed. It grows contained in large amounts of runoff scours the tops off mountains and shrubs are easily identified by long quickly in wetlands, spreading through smothers the eggs and kills them. hills, creates deep valleys and moves thorns or spikes along the branches. Its underground runners and seeds. Here in Brown Trout are also stocked in the Don boulders large distances. roots may exude a chemical effect that Milne Hollow, attempts at control focus and can be seen traveling upstream in discourages other species from growing mainly on cutting the seed heads and the spring. Climate change is a major challenge and because its seeds have a laxative removing them from the site. to our river system. Warmer water effect on birds, the seeds are dropped There were no “good old days” for negatively affects aquatic creatures and far, wide and frequently. Control and elimination of invasive fish once the Europeans arrived. Clear plants. Altered weather now produces species is difficult and long-term. cutting of land caused rises in water more intense, local storms than we Dog-strangling Vine, or Pale Spraying with herbicides is now tightly temperatures, sawmills blanketed have seen in the past. We know Milne Swallowwort, is possibly the worst controlled, access to the infested areas the river with sawdust and homes, Hollow was flooded out during a major plague to affect our valleys. Most of is often difficult, natural disease and and industry discharged human storm 1878 and again with Hurricane what you see here on the ground and predators are usually non-existent waste and other chemicals direct into Hazel in 1954. We have had several twining upward onto shrubs and trees is and hand pulling, digging or cutting is the river. Today, only 21 pollutant- other major storms since, but with less that culprit. It has no enemies, tolerates time-consuming often ineffective. Each tolerant varieties actually breed in the publicity because they were localized. sun and dense shade and produces plant shades the ground beneath it, Watershed, down from the 42 that The East Don suffered heavily in 30,000 seeds per square metre. Seeds discouraging the growth of many native were once here. After a storm, road each have a fluffy attachment that species. 3 4 surfaces contribute debris, oil, grease, particulates and gases to pollute our air. > Exit This access road from the parking Remember, much of what you see bacteria, salt and cigarette butts and lot rises sharply to Don Mills Road via behind you was not here a decade ago. You are now in Moccasin Trail golf courses contribute excessive 13 Moccasin Trail roadway and the Donway Milne Hollow is the northern gateway amounts of fertilizer and pesticide. Park, an eight-hectare, well-used East. The Shops of Don Mills complex and to the Conservation Runoff also contains waste from many neighbourhood park accessible from The TTC stops are on Don Mills Road. Reserve that runs from Lawrence types of animals and from industry and Donway East following Moccasin Trail Avenue East to the Forks of the Don here to this parking lot. The trees on the For Lawrence Avenue East, residential areas. No wonder there are 15 near O’Connor Drive. This long stretch so few fish. slopes are remnants of valuable forest, retrace along the path, back of greenspace was named to honour now uncommon in Toronto. through the tunnels, over the bridge Charles Sauriol, a conservationist and To illustrate the rise and fall and turn left back the the Old Lawrence resident of the Don watershed with a 9 Originally, stormwater went of water levels along the East Don 14 parking lot. vision to protect natural spaces and directly into the river carrying River, Toronto artist Robert Sprachman create corridors through which wildlife with it various chemicals from the roads. Look back over the recently created this art installation called High 16 can pass. Water Mark. The rocks show the relative This pond system was created in 2003- planted areas such as the upland levels at eight-year intervals over the past 2005 to prevent flooding along the East and lowland reforested areas back on Milne Hollow is here for you to enjoy. century, although not necessarily at this Don and on the Don Valley parkway. The the slope, the dry meadow over near the Return often because each season is spot. ponds collect water from 70 hectares of lookout, the riparian or river bank planting different. Share the valley with others residential Don Mills and The Shops of between the pond and the river and the and most importantly, do your part to > Exit The path past the bridge rises Don Mills plus 8 hectares on Greenbelt wet meadow closer to Milne House. keep it healthy and free of litter. sharply to Concorde Place, eventually Drive. leading to East. This is a Pond construction is complex. Runoff Trail Users’ Guide possible spot to leave the valley. • Users of these trail guides are responsible for their own safety and well being. water from the southern slope passes • Be aware of cyclists and other trail users at all times. Walk back the way you came through a narrow channel, then a wider 10 • Walk with others. and cross the river over the first one lined with boulders. These slow • Keep your children in sight at all times. bridge you passed on your walk. the speed of the flow and allow heavy • Trails may involve stairs and slopes. sediment to settle before it collects in the • Trails may not be lit or cleared of ice and snow. You now see the famous • Stay on the trails or mown areas; do not leave them at any time. 11 large ponds. The same happens at the Rainbow Tunnel landmark seen • Cross roads only at intersections, lights or crosswalks. north end for runoff from the northern • Keep your pet on a leash and clean-up after it. from the Don Valley Parkway. Railway and western slopes. Ridges of soil • Do not pick, damage, or plant any vegetation. tracks run the length of the Don, all built separate the two ponds, but these can • Beware of poison ivy: “Leaflets of three, let it be.” when railroad was king, and valleys be seen only in dry weather. As water • Respect and do not feed wildlife. • Do not light fires. deemed wastelands. This tunnel passes depth increases in the ponds, the cleaner under the CNR tracks, laid in 1907, to • Leave nothing behind. surface water flows towards the East • Washrooms operate seasonally. originally connect Union Station with Don River through a narrow channel • Avoid the trails during and after a storm; water levels can rise suddenly. northern and western Canada. emptying into a drainage ditch along the • Wear footwear for pavement, loose or broken surfaces and bare earth. Parkway. Another outlet sends less clean • Wear clothing to suit the weather and protect against insects. The East Don River valley • Carry drinking water. 12 water into the East Don in cases of heavy is a heavily stressed waterway, rain or fast-melting snow. While this even before the scar left by the Don Learn more about the Don River watershed at www.trca.ca looks like any ordinary pond, it is really Valley Parkway built in the early 1960s. an engineered filtration system designed This highway carries 6500 cars each to improve the quality of water flowing hour, all contributing particulates to into Lake Ontario. the road for the next runoff event and Prepared by the Don Watershed Regeneration Council & Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 5 6