GTAA Living City Project Etobicoke Creek Summary Report and Implementation Plan Summary Report and Implementation Plan Printed in 2006 Toronto and Region Conservation 5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, Ontario M3N 1S4 Phone: 416-661-6600 • Fax: 416-661-6898 www.trca.on.ca Photography © Toronto and Region Conservation Unless otherwise noted. II Table of Contents Summary Report and Implementation Plan page Summary Report and Implementation Plan ...............................................................................................................................1 1.0 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................................................1 2.0 Study Components and Findings ......................................................................................................................................5 Aquatic Ecosystems ................................................................................................................................................................5 Terrestrial Natural Heritage ...................................................................................................................................................6 Stormwater ...............................................................................................................................................................................9 3.0 Key Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................17 4.0 Implementation .....................................................................................................................................................................21 Focus Area 1: Catchment 219 – Water Quality/Quantity and Habitat Restoration .............................................21 Focus Area 2: GTAA Study Area – Terrestrial, Aquatic and Water Quality Enhancements ............................. 22 5.0 Business Stewardship ...........................................................................................................................................................35 6.0 Monitoring and Measuring Progress ...............................................................................................................................41 Appendices .........................................................................................................................................................................................43 Appendix 1: Candidate Restoration Sites ..................................................................................................................... 44 Appendix 2: Etobicoke-Mimico Habitat Implementation Plan – GTAA Site Assessments and Priority Ranking ..............................................................................................................47 Appendix 3: Business Community Outreach Prospects ............................................................................................61 List of Maps Map 1: Study Areas ....................................................................................................................................................................3 Map 2: Aquatic Ecosystems Findings and Recommendations .....................................................................................7 Map 3: Terrestrial Natural Heritage Findings and Recommendations .....................................................................11 Map 4: Stormwater Management Findings and Recommendations........................................................................13 Map 5: Focus Area 1 – Catchment 219 Water Quality/Quantity and Habitat Restoration ................................................................................................................................................... 25 Map 6: Focus Area 2 – GTAA Study Area Terrestrial and Aquatic Enhancements .............................................................................................................................................31 Map 7: Habitat Implementation Plan Sites .......................................................................................................................33 Map 8: Business Stewardship Opportunities ...................................................................................................................39 III List of Tables Table 1: Key Recommendations and Benefits to Greater Toronto Airport Authority ............................................18 Table 2: Priority Implementation Schedule for Focus Area 1 – Catchment 219 (2007 through 2012) ................................................................................................................... 23 Table 3: Implementation Schedule for Focus Area 2 – GTAA Study Area Terrestrial and Aquatic Enhancements (2007 through 2012) ........................................................................28 V GTAA Living City Project Etobicoke Creek Watershed Summary Report and Implementation Plan 1.0 Introduction Lester B. Pearson International Airport (LBPIA) is the largest single land use within the Etobicoke and Mimico creeks watersheds, and comprises approximately six and seven per cent of the watersheds respectively. The Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) lands straddle three of the four Etobicoke Creek subwatersheds (all except Little Etobicoke Creek subwatershed), with the downstream confluences of the Upper Etobicoke and Spring creeks subwatersheds, as well as the upstream origin of the Lower Etobicoke Creek subwatershed, all located upon the GTAA property. The airport’s unique position as the nexus of the three major subwatersheds means that the key recommendations of this report have special significance to the airport lands, and conversely, as do the airport’s operations upon the subwatersheds, both upstream and downstream. The GTAA and Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) share a mutual interest in the Etobicoke Creek and have a good working relationship regarding its protection and enhancement. Greater Toronto Airport Authority staff have contributed to the Etobicoke-Mimico Task Force, the development of Greening Our Watersheds: Revitalization Strategies for the Etobicoke and Mimico Creeks, currently sit on the Etobicoke-Mimico Creek Watersheds Coalition and have worked together to create the GTAA GTAA Living City Project EtobicokeIntegration Creek and Implementation Watershed Living City Project as an interdisciplinary approach Creek; off-site and on-site stormwater to watershed management within this area of the management opportunities, and the TRCA Etobicoke and Spring creeks. Hydrology Model Update. These reports provide the basis for improved stormwater The GTAA Living City Project is a major undertaking controls in the watershed. involving four main components: 4. Integration and Priority Implementation 1. Terrestrial Natural Heritage Recommendations The Terrestrial System inventory and Key recommendations from the above modeling for the study area (LBPIA Wildlife studies are spatially and conceptually Control Area) includes management integrated to ensure land uses, recommendations, identification of water quality, fisheries and terrestrial potential/targeted natural cover and priority opportunities are prioritized within the restoration and enhancement sites to meet study area. Potential partnerships and TRCA’s local, as well as watershed, targets community outreach opportunities for for the terrestrial system. implementation are provided as part of the Business Stewardship Program. 2. Aquatic Ecosystems The Etobicoke Creek Watershed Fisheries Study Areas Management Plan (FMP) presents management recommendations for target The study areas for each component provide species at a subwatershed scale and multiple scales of addressing watershed restoration opportunities for priority aquatic management, as seen on Map 1. The Fisheries habitat in close proximity to GTAA lands. Management Plan (FMP) takes a watershed-wide scale in its recommendations, the Terrestrial Natural 3. Stormwater Management Heritage Report provides recommendations The Stormwater Management Study centered upon the GTAA study area1* and the includes five components: A Modelling Stormwater Management Report looks at upstream Assessment of Runoff Water Quality catchments draining into GTAA lands. While these Management in Etobicoke Creek for study areas may vary, their impact follows a process Catchment 219, which is a representative to realize watershed-wide targets. catchment upstream of the GTAA property; the Etobicoke Creek Watershed Spills 1* GTAA study area based on Lester B. Pearson Mapping Study; a Fluvial Geomorphology International Airport (LBPIA) Wildlife Control Area and Erosion Assessment of Etobicoke GTAA Living City Project Map 1 Etobicoke Creek Watershed 3 2.0 Study Components and Findings Aquatic Ecosystems – Etobicoke Creek Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) The FMP provides recommendations to protect and enhance the aquatic ecosystem within the watershed and serves as a guide for land-use planners, consultants, farmers, private landowners, land developers, anglers and nature enthusiasts. It includes management objectives, target species and various implementation strategies to improve the ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem at a subwatershed scale. Key findings of the report include: • Fifty-two