Regeneration Projects in the Don River Watershed
Lawrence Avenue Weir Mitigation
The weir that was located just north of Lawrence Avenue was a major barrier to fish, stopping salmon and other fish in their efforts to move upstream.
In 1999, the weir was modified by reshaping the grade of the river. The weir is now passable, and once a few more weirs receive similar treatment, salmon will be able to access the northern reaches of the East Don River in the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Don Valley Brickworks
Along the lower Don River, four kilometres from Lake Ontario is the Don Valley Brick Works, the largest and most diverse regeneration effort ever undertaken in the Don River watershed.
The scope of the Brick Works project is massive, involving not only significant naturalization and ecological rebirth, but the preservation of the site's cultural significance through architectural restoration. The buildings that produced bricks for a young and growing City of Toronto are being restored and preserved as a monument to the industrial importance of rivers and valleys to the economic and social growth of urban areas.
The sterile open pit mine where sand was collected for brick making has been transformed into wetlands, wildflower meadows and board walks with interpretive signs. The exposed face of the pit has been preserved as an internationally significant geological site that contains geological sediments and fossils from the last interglacial period.
A key restoration feature was the "day-lighting" of Mud Creek, which once flowed through the deep quarry and was used in the manufacturing of bricks. Mud Creek was re-routed from its storm sewer and brought back into the quarry through a series of five new, connected ponds. This is both cleaning the water before the creek enters the Don and providing habitat for many species of fish, birds, reptiles and other animals.
Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project
Ultimately this project will develop a preferred alternative that will transform the existing mouth of the Don River including the Keating Channel, into a healthier, more naturalized river outlet to the lake, while at the same time, removing the risk of flooding to 230 hectares of urban land to the east and south of the river.
Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) is proceeding with the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project (DMNP) in cooperation with the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC). Ultimately this project will develop a preferred alternative that will transform the existing mouth of the Don River including the Keating Channel, into a healthier, more naturalized river outlet to the lake, while at the same time, removing the risk of flooding to 230 hectares of urban land to the east and south of the river. This project is included in TWRC's current 10 year business plan to renew and revitalize Toronto's waterfront and is funded by the three levels of government (federal, provincial and the City of Toronto).
This project is subject to the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (EA Act) as an Individual Environmental Assessment (EA). The Terms of Reference (ToR), the first step of an Individual EA, sets out TRCA's work plan for preparing the EA and carrying out the required public consultation. The ToR for the DMNP was approved by the Ministry of the Environment on August 17, 2006.
In 2001, the TRCA was identified by the three levels of government as the eligible recipient for funding to naturalize the mouth of the Don River (Don Mouth) and provide flood protection for the entire 440 hectare floodplain surrounding the lower Don River and Keating Channel. This work is being undertaken as two separate projects; the first to remove the risk of flooding to 230 ha of land and to naturalize the Don Mouth (the subject of this EA process), and the second, the Lower Don River West Remedial Flood Protection Project Class EA, to remove the remaining 210 ha of land from risk of flooding. This second EA has already been completed and construction of the key components of the preferred alternative will occur between May 2006 and fall 2008.
The goal of the DMNP is to establish and sustain the form, features, and functions of a natural river mouth within the context of a revitalized City environment while providing flood protection up to the Regulatory Flood.
The objectives are to:
- Naturalize and rehabilitate the mouth of the Don River utilizing an ecosystem based approach
- Provide flood protection for Spill Zones 1 and 2
- Maintain the provision for navigation and existing flood protection through sediment, debris and ice management
- Integrate existing infrastructure functions that could not be reasonably moved or removed (including road, rails, utilities, trails, and power)
- Encourage additional compatible recreation, cultural heritage opportunities and public/handicap accessibility
- Contribute to the revitalization and sustainability of the waterfront and coordinate with and inform other planning and development efforts and associated certain and foreseeable infrastructure
- Design and implement this project in a manner consistent with TWRC's Sustainability Framework and applicable provincial legislation
Lower Don River West Remedial Flood Protection Project
This undertaking is producing a flood protection solution that will eliminate the risk to life and property to ~210 hectares of land west of the lower Don River.
This undertaking is producing a flood protection solution that will eliminate the risk to life and property to ~210 hectares of land west of the lower Don River. Through the use of computer models, this area has been identified as being within the Regulatory Floodplain, which is defined as the area of land that is anticipated to be flooded if a storm the size of Hurricane Hazel were to occur over the Don Watershed. Currently, two levels of development restrictions have been placed on the flood prone lands west of the Don River: Special Policy Areas (SPA) and Holding 'H' Areas.
Lower Don River West Remedial Flood Protection Project Study Area
Approximately 172 hectares have received a SPA designation, which allows new development to occur after appropriate flood proofing measures have been approved and incorporated into the design. The remaining 38 hectares, located immediately west of the Don River between the CNR bridge and Queen Street (which are known as the West Don Lands), possess an 'H' designation. Due to the very high degree of risk to flooding, this designation prevents any redevelopment to occur until a comprehensive flood protection solution for all 38 hectares can be implemented.
Flooding west of the Don River, resulting from a storm the size of Hurricane Hazel, would be enhanced by the damming effect of a too-narrow stream crossing under the Canadian National Railway (CNR) and other utility bridges, and the absence of a confining valley around the Don River. High water levels in Lake Ontario and ice jams during the winter and spring could also exacerbate the degree of flooding. Additionally, any flood protection solutions devised in the West Don Lands need to consider options to treat contaminated soils and groundwater within the area, which resulted from past industrial activities.
This undertaking is located in the heart of Toronto. As such, many cultural, social and economic issues had to be addressed to design flood protection for this area when it comes to devising a design that will provide flood protection for Toronto. Railway operations and infrastructure, land use planning, municipal infrastructure, recreation, the natural environment, the local economy, and public health are issues that were examined through the environmental assessment process.
Project Objective
The objective for the Lower Don River West Remedial Flood Protection Project is to protect human life and infrastructure from flooding by permanently removing approximately 210 hectares of Toronto from the Regulatory Floodplain, west and north of the Don River Mouth.
