Highland Creek Watershed Issues & Challenges
As one of the most developed watersheds in the Toronto Region, the Highland Creek has a high proportion of hard surfaces, such as roads, parking lots and roofs. These surfaces do not allow rain water to be absorbed into the ground, but tend to direct water into the storm sewer system. This process is known as urban runoff. During heavy rainfalls, the high volume and velocity of water can cause impacts such as erosion, flooding and damage to terrestrial habitat. Runoff also carries untreated pollutants - everything from garbage, oil and gas, fertilizers and pesticides - directly into our watercourses, thus reducing the quality of water we ultimately use for drinking and recreation.
Urban Stormwater Management
Stormwater management is needed where urbanization limits the amount of rainfall that infiltrates into the ground and increases the amount of rainfall that is collected and discharged to our streams and rivers. This change in the water cycle can lead to increased flooding and erosion, and reduced recharging of aquifers and baseflow in streams.
Good stormwater management attempts to return the water cycle to a more natural state by reducing flows at source and retaining stormwater in ponds to be cleaned up and released at a controlled rate.
The Highland watershed has very little stormwater control for improving water quality. The long term health of this watershed ecosystem will depend, in part, on increasing the amount of stormwater control. Whether on a large, watershed- wide scale, at a local neighbourhood level or through our everyday actions, everyone has a role to play to protect the health of the Highland, through stormwater management.
Toronto and Region Conservation and the City of Toronto are working together to help provide information and resources that will help residents reduce stormwater runoff from their properties. From rain barrels to pervious pavement, check out the Resources or Community Participation section for ways you can help the Highland.
For information on watershed-wide projects and plans, including the City of Toronto's Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan, please visit Projects and Plans.
Availability and Connectivity of Terrestrial Habitats
While some very significant habitats are linked through existing natural corridors, habitat fragmentation has occurred over the course of human settlement and development of the watershed. TRCA's Terrestrial Natural Heritage Strategy and the development of the Greening Strategy will help ensure development is conducted in a manner that respects habitats and their complex inter-relationship and that new restoration and enhancement projects are implemented strategically and effectively. Many opportunities exist to protect, restore and connect natural areas - whether deep in a ravine or right in your backyard!
Highland Watershed Greening Strategy
Highland Creek is the only TRCA watershed for which a guiding watershed plan or strategy does not exist and a watershed-wide advisory or advocacy group to support and direct watershed initiatives has not been formed. The development of a Greening Strategy is now underway and a priority project for the Highland. Engaging community members in watershed planning and implementation initiatives is key to the success of our collective initiatives in the watershed.
For more information or to get involved, please contact Keri McMahon at 416-661-6600 ext. 5243 or kmcmahon@trca.on.ca.
