STAFF REPORT

November 12, 1999

To: Planning & Transportation Committee

From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

Subject: Watershed Initiatives throughout the City of Toronto

City Wide

Purpose:

To respond to a resolution in Report No. 5 of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, as adopted by Toronto City Council at its meeting of April 13, 14 & 15, 1999 requesting the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, in consultation with The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, to report to back to Committee with a list of present watershed initiatives in different areas of the city.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

None.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Background:

Toronto City Council, at its meeting of April 13, 14 &15, 1999, considered the issue of creating a "Council of Toronto Watersheds" to provide support to local community groups with their watershed projects. During deliberation of that issue, Council requested that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, in consultation with The Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, report back to the Urban Planning and Development Committee with a list of watershed initiatives. This report is in response to that request.

The City through the Works & Emergency Services Department (Water & Waste Water and Technical Services Divisions); Economic Development, Culture & Tourism Department (Parks & Recreation and Policy & Development Divisions); and Urban Planning & Development Services (City Planning Division) lead and are involved in a variety of watershed initiatives.

The Works & Emergency Services Department, for example, has recently initiated the development of a Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan. The Plan, dealing with stormwater quality and water flow issues across the city, is being developed on a watershed basis. A 24-member steering committee has been formed to advise on the development of the plan. This committee consists of 12 public members and 12 staff and agency members. The Master Plan will follow the Class Environmental Assessment Process and will engage the public and communities through a public consultation process.

The Works & Emergency Services Department has led the development of subwatershed studies to provide a framework to guide future redevelopment so as to mitigate the impact of urbanization on area watercourses (e.g. Morningside Tributary & Centennial Creek). In addition, the department has undertaken stream restoration projects to address existing stream erosion and water quality issues, using natural channel design principles (e.g. Markham Branch renaturalization). These types of projects have engaged local community and watershed groups in the planning and implementation of remedial works.

The Department continues to participate in watershed initiatives led by The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (e.g. Etobicoke and Mimico Creek Watershed Taskforce). The Department will also continue to provide support for community initiatives (e.g. planting programs by community & interest groups and the Yellow Fish Road program).

The Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department (Parks & Recreation and Policy & Development Divisions) are responsible for parks policy, development and maintenance. Many projects undertaken by Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department relate to watershed restoration (e.g. High Park naturalization, Rouge Park Vegetation Management Plan, Don Valley Brick Works, Milne Hollow, Spadina Quay, ravine stewardship & tree planting) in partnership with community organizations, individuals and other agencies.

The Urban Planning & Development Department (City Planning Division) has been active in policy development and land use regulation related to natural heritage protection and the stewardship of city watersheds (e.g. Task Force to Bring Back the Don).

Comments:

'Watershed initiatives' have been broadly interpreted. Staff has attempted to consult widely within the City of Toronto and The Toronto & Region Conservation Authority to ensure the list of watershed issues is complete.

Works and Emergency Services Department has an active program related to watershed improvements. Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department, through the Parks & Recreation and Policy & Development Divisions and Urban Planning and Development Services Department are active partners in undertaking naturalization and stewardship and in developing policy and regulations that support improved watershed health.

In preparing the list of projects it is clear that many contribute to protection, preservation and enhancement of City watersheds. City staff undertake some initiatives; groups and individuals undertake others. Some are city funded while other levels of government fund others. Funding is also provided by other sources including private companies and foundations. Appendix 1 lists watershed initiatives that are being undertaken within the City of Toronto.

Conclusions:

The City through the Works & Emergency Services; Economic Development, Culture and Tourism; and Urban Planning and Development Services Departments contribute to the protection, preservation and enhancement of City watersheds. The City leads many initiatives. The City and The Toronto & Region Conservation Authority collaborate on other projects. Community and interest groups, sometimes in partnership with the City and The Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, lead others.

Contact:

Ann Rexe, MCIP, RPP, Brian Denney,

Team Lead, Class EA's & Subwatershed Studies Director, Watershed Management Division

Telephone: 396-7156 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Fax: 396-5681 Telephone: 661-6600, ext. 5242

E-mail: rexe@city.scarborough.on.ca Fax: 661-6898

E-mail: bdenney@trca.on.ca

Michael A. Price, P.Eng., FICE

General Manager,

Water and Wastewater Services

Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

AR:ca

File: x_rev1.doc

Appendix 1

A Brief Listing of Watershed Initiatives in the City of Toronto - 1999

(A) City of Toronto Watershed Initiatives

A.1 Markham Branch Renaturalization Project (Toronto) (Highland Creek Watershed)

A.2 William A. Dempsey EcoPark (Stormwater Management Retrofit) Project (Toronto) (Highland Watershed)

A.3 Humber Creek Watershed Restoration Plan (Toronto) (Humber Watershed)

A.4 Terraview Willowfield Watercourse Naturalization & Stormwater Retrofit Project (Toronto) (Don Watershed)

A.5 Watercourse Rehabilitation (Toronto)

A.6 Lakeshore Rehabilitation (TRCA & Toronto)

A.7 Watercourse Acquisition (Toronto)

A.8 West Highland Creek Subwatershed Study (Toronto & TRCA)

A.9 Taylor/Massey Creek Subwatershed Study (Toronto & TRCA)

A.10 Morningside Tributary Subwatershed Study (Toronto & TRCA)

A.11 Don Valley Snow Dump (Toronto)

A.12 Spring Creek Sedimentation Pond (Toronto)

A.13 Lower Duck Pond (Toronto)

A.14 Dunker's Flow Balancing System (Toronto & TRCA)

A.15 Humber Bay Shore Flow Balancing System (Toronto & TRCA)

A.16 Emery Creek Stormwater Quality Control Pond (Toronto)

A.17 Rouge Marsh Rehabilitation (MNR, Toronto)

A.18 Departments provide staff and/or 'in kind' assistance to community and interest groups (Toronto)

A.19 'In Kind' support to community and interest groups e.g. Yellow Fish Road (Toronto)

(B) Issue-Specific Committees:

B.1 Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan Steering Committee (Toronto)

B.2 Storm Water Group (Toronto)

(C) Area and Site-Specific Committees:

C.1 Task Force to Bring Back The Don (Toronto)

C.2 Don Valley Brickyards Operations & Program Advisory Committee (TRCA)

C.3 Emery Creek Environmental Association (Toronto)

C.4 Garrison Creek Citizens Advisory Committee (Toronto)

C.5 High Park Citizens Natural Environment Sub-Committee (Toronto)

C.6 Port Union Waterfront Improvement Project Working Committee (TRCA)

C.7 Sherwood Park Advisory Committee (Toronto)

C.8 South Riverdale Environmental Liaison Committee (independent *)

C.9 Tommy Thompson Park Natural Areas Advisory Committee (TRCA)

C.10 Toronto Bay Initiative (independent *)

C.11 William A. Dempsey Eco-park Public Advisory Committee (Toronto)

C.12 Taddle Creek (Toronto/University of Toronto)

(D) Committees (extending beyond Toronto):

D.1 Don Watershed Regeneration Council (TRCA)

D.2 Humber Watershed Alliance (TRCA)

D.3 Lake Ontario Waterfront Network (independent *)

D.4 Morningside Tributary Sub-watershed Study Public Advisory Committee (Toronto)

D.5 Rouge Marshes Rehabilitation Working Group (Province)

D.6 Rouge Park Alliance (Province in partnership with Toronto, TRCA, watershed municipalities & SRVS Inc.)

D.7 Etobicoke & Mimico Creek Watersheds Taskforce (TRCA)

(E) Organizations & Groups Working on Watershed Initiatives

E.1 Environmental Centre for New Canadians (City-wide)

E.2 Save the Rouge Valley Inc. (Rouge Watershed)

E.3 Friends of the Rouge Watershed (Rouge Watershed)

E.4 10,000 Trees for the Rouge (Rouge Watershed)

E.5 Ontario Streams (City wide)

E.6 Action to Restore a Clean Humber (Humber Watershed)

E.7 Humber Creek Restoration Group (Humber Watershed)

E.8 Black Creek Project (Humber Watershed -based at TRCA)

E.9 Association for Biodiversity Conservation (Humber Watershed)

E.10 Humber Heritage Committee (Humber Watershed)

E.11 High Park Citizen's Advisory Committee (Humber Watershed)

E.12 Friends of the Don East (Don Watershed)

E.13 Terraview Willowfield Community School Council (Don Watershed)

E.14 Friends of Mimico Creek

E.15 Alderwood Environmentalists (Etobicoke Creek Watershed)

E.16 Citizens Concerned about the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront

E.17 North Toronto Green Community

E.18 Green Door Alliance (Rouge Watershed)

E.19 Friends of Highland Creek (independent *)

· The few "independent" committees on this list were included because the City is an active partner in their work.

· (TRCA) - Toronto & Region Conservation Authority