Yellow Creek Geomorphic Systems Master Plan

The City of Toronto has initiated a study to identify sewer and watermain infrastructure in Yellow Creek that is at risk of erosion from high flows due to storms and snow melt runoff. This study will follow the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Master Plan process.

Help us Monitor Erosion and Flows

As you walk through Yellow Creek, we ask you to share photos at two public monitoring locations. Your photos will help us track erosion and flow changes that may impact sewer and watermain infrastructure in Yellow Creek.

Yellow Creek Interactive Map

Update #1 – January 5, 2020

Please see the Notice of Commencement. To receive project updates and receive notification for the first public meeting, register your email address with yellowcreek@toronto.ca

Public Monitoring Locations

Two public monitoring locations in Yellow Creek will be tracked during this study. We invite residents to help us track the changes at these locations by sharing your photos with us.

Your photos may be used by the study team to inform the study to better understand the conditions in Yellow Creek.

Submit Your Photos

There are two ways to submit your photos:

Visit the interactive map and follow the instructions
Email your photos directly to yellowcreek@toronto.ca

Public Monitoring Site A

We are monitoring the impacts of high flows at this location and the erosion which is occurring on the east bank of the creek. If the concrete area is submerged, take photos from the trail boardwalk under the bridge on the west side of the creek.

Yellow Creek Geomorphic Systems Master Plan Monitoring Site A north of St Clair Avenue East bridge

Public Monitoring Site B

We are monitoring the impacts of high flows upstream and downstream of the pedestrian bridge.

Yellow Creek Geomorphic Systems Master Plan Monitoring Site B looking south from pedestrian footbridge

Information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. Questions about the collection of personal information may be addressed to the contact person.

Yellow Creek Geomorphic Systems Master Plan Study Map

Map of Yellow Creek Study Area from the source outfall (near Heath Street, south of the cemetery) to the inlet point (south of CP Rail). — Yellow Creek Geomorphic Systems Master Plan study area map

Legend

Location #	Location Name
1	Source Storm Sewer Outfall
2	Storm Sewer Outfall
3	Storm Sewer Outfall
4	Storm Sewer Outfall
5	Discharge Outfall – Rosehill Reservoir
6	Watermain Crossing
7	Storm Sewer Outfall
8	Watermain Adjacent to Creek
9	Storm Sewer Outfall
10	Storm Sewer Inlet
	Yellow Creek Stream/Channel

Notice of Commencement (January 5, 2021)

Notice of Site Work (April 8, 2020)

Common Risks to Sewer and Watermains in Our Ravines and Watercourses

During storm events, rain water or snow melt runoff enters underground pipes via drains and catchbasins on streets and in parks and is discharged from storm sewer outfalls into the watercourses that flow to Lake Ontario. At times these flows can be high, resulting in erosion damage. High flows from past storms have caused substantial erosion damage to sewers and watermains located in and near the City’s ravines and watercourses. This erosion damage can include:

Destabilizing the soil near sewers and watermains
Exposing or breaking previously buried sewers and watermains
Damage storm outfall structures, erosion control structures, watercourse bed (bottom of the watercourse), watercourse banks and aquatic habitats

Some photos that illustrate the risks

Yellow Creek source storm sewer outfall and erosion has resulted in the collapse of these gabion baskets which are erosion control structures.

Yellow Creek storm sewer outfall north of St Clair Avenue East and the failing armourstone wall, which is an erosion control structure, has put the storm sewer outfall at risk of erosion.

Yellow Creek failed storm sewer outfall south of St Clair Avenue East and erosion on the west bank of the creek consisting of a failed armourstone erosion control structure

Yellow Creek storm sewer outfall south of St Clair Avenue East and a failed armourstone wall which is an erosion control structure. Erosion at the bottom of the wall has resulted in failure of the slope. the entire wall and storm sewer outfall are at risk of failure.

Yellow Creek upstream of the pedestrian bridge. Yellow Creek at this location is wider than at other locations, as it does not have bank erosion control structures.

Rosehill Reservoir discharge outfall located downstream/south of the pedestrian bridge and failed pieces of bank erosion control structures which can alter the creek flow, resulting in increased erosion.

Yellow Creek storm sewer inlet and failed armourstone walls have resulted due to erosion from storm flows.

Yellow Creek storm sewer inlet. Yellow Creek enters this inlet and travels underground to the Don River. This inlet to be reviewed for the purposes of developing options to reduce the potential for erosion. Local drainage for nearby overland flows.

Study Objective

This study will investigate an analyse the stream processes and current conditions impacting the storm sewer and watermain infrastructure within the ravine and undertake forecasting work to help predict future scenarios and/or impacts. Solutions can then be developed to help mitigate or prevent those future scenarios and ensure local storm sewers and watermains in Yellow Creek can continue to operate and service residents and businesses.

Study Process

The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment is an approved planning process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. This study will carry out the following key steps:

Identify the problem or opportunity to be addressed
Develop and evaluate a range of alternative solution(s)
Identify a preferred solution(s)

Your Input

Public participation is an important part of this study. There are two key opportunities for public input and feedback in the study schedule:

To discuss alternative solution(s) and help develop evaluation criteria
To evaluate the alternative solution(s) and help select the preferred solutions

In addition, at the last stage of this study, a final report will be produced for a 30 day period of public review and comment. We welcome your feedback at public events, by phone, mail or email. To receive project updates, register your email address with yellowcreek@toronto.ca

Master Plan

A Master Plan is a long range plan that examines the needs within a geographic area and provides a framework and vision to implement recommended improvements.

The study will follow the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment study process, an approved planning process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, which includes providing opportunities for public input at key stages. A study report will be prepared at the end of the process.

The study will not examine trail conditions or recommend improvements to trails, forestry or ravine amenities. The City will undertake separate efforts in the future to address these features.