Don Watcher

Getting to the Brick Works from Pottery Road

2011-11-06T10:00:00.005-05:00

Three possible routes: red, green, and yellow (see below for descriptions)

The Don Valley Brick Works has undergone a transformation in recent years and has opened up under the care of Evergreen Canada as the Evergreen Brick Works. Evergreen has done a masterful job of restoring the buildings and updating the site for multiple uses including a farmer's market, a native plant nursery and a skating rink in the winter. The place is worth a visit.

Unfortunately access other than by car has been and continues to be a challenge. The TTC runs a bus there but only on Saturdays. The 28A Davisville bus extends its route to the Brick Works 8AM - 6 PM. Evergreen offers a shuttle bus from Broadview subway station that travels every 20 minutes between 7 AM to 7 PM (4:30 PM on weekends). Access routes by foot and by bicycle remain difficult and at times safety-challenged.

Improved intersection at Bayview Avenue includes a new pedestrian crossing on the north side

Recently the city has done a complete makeover of Pottery Road. It was supposed to re-open September 5 but due to issues with an unstable slope it remains closed until November 30. Fortunately, there is safe access for pedestrians and cyclists to make it through. In addition there is now a pedestrian crosswalk (with a crossing button on both sides) at the intersection of Pottery Rd and Bayview Ave so this is definitely a positive step forward.

Therefore it makes sense to review the access options to the Brick Works from Pottery Road. If you look at the map, there are three possible routes. Based on colours I will describe each route and their pros and cons.

Red Route

Path up side of hill. Ravine access road is just to the right (don't go that way)

From the intersection at Pottery and Bayview, cross at the lights and turn right (north). Go up the hill a short distance. When you reach a park access road that winds up through a small ravine to the north west, you will also see a dirt path going up the hill to your left. This path is very steep and can be slippery in wet conditions but can be managed with care. I don't recommend this route for any cyclists except those with good mountain bikes. At the top of the hill you will find a railway. It's OK - currently it is not in use and there are even small trees growing through the ties. Cross the tracks and scramble up a short steep embankment and this will bring you into the north east corner of the old quarry.

View of Brick Works ponds from the top of the slope

The top edge offers one of the best views of the quarry ponds. There is a dirt road which goes south and this will lead you to the north edge of the Brick Works complex. While going down the winding gravel road you will see a climbing tower built by Outward Bound, one of Evergreen's tenants. You can also take a detour to a lookout or scramble down the slope on one of the informal paths that lead into the pond area.

Green Route

Median is about 2m wide but only a painted line separates you from traffic. Be careful!

From the intersection at Pottery and Bayview, cross at the lights and turn left (south). Follow the paved median beside Bayview. This can be a bit unnerving because traffic comes up behind you at quite a clip. The speed limit on Bayview was recently reduced from 70 kph to 60 kph but this doesn't make you feel much safer. As you continue along around the corner you will notice a new access road that gets you into the back parking are of the Brick Works. At some point there will be Jersey barriers placed along this route but until then care must be used here. This is the shortest access route and is usable by both walkers and cyclists.

Yellow Route

Start of Yellow Route trail

This route starts immediately on the west side of the CN railway crossing. Getting to this point is the hardest part because you must cross two lanes of traffic with no aids other than your wits. When you cross the river, the only pedestrian access is on the north side so you need to cross the tracks and then scoot across the road (there has been talk of building a pedestrian bridge on the south side but this will be sometime in the future when gravy stops flowing down the Don River). Care must be used at this point. Once you make it across Pottery Road, this route turns out to be the nicest of the three.

Trail runs close to railroad so be careful

The informal path here follows a route between the railway tracks and the road. Safely ensconced between road and rail the path allows for mostly single file passage almost all the way to the entrance of the Brick Works. The path exits onto Bayview about 25m east of the lights. Fortunately a newly installed pedestrian activated button allows for easy crossing of Bayview. This route was recommended by me as the preferred route but unfortunately due to a point where it narrows near a rail installation, the city wouldn't go for it.

So there you have it. Recent changes make for easier access. Eventually the Green Route will be improved. Until then you can choose your preferred route based on your own comfort level.

Peek at the Creek

2011-10-30T18:11:00.005-04:00

On Wednesday November 2, 7PM at the Stan Wadlow Clubhouse, Councillor Janet Davis will be hosting a community meeting to discuss recent and proposed changes for Taylor Creek Park and the East Don. This should prove to be an informative meeting for anyone interested in the Don Valley.

Note about directions: Listed as 373 Cedarvale Avenue, Google Maps shows this address at the corner of Cosburn and Cedarvale. The arena is on the corner. The clubhouse is actually further up the street just north of the arena down a short roadway. See you there!

Milkman's Lane Closed

2011-10-26T10:12:00.004-04:00

Just north of Castlefrank Subway station is a secluded but well used path that provides a way down into the Don Valley. From the bottom of this path you can access the Don Valley Brick Works and the Belt Line path. How Milkman's Lane got its start is something of a mystery but local legend has it that when milk was still delivered to homes in the morning, this path provided a back entrance for milk carts for the tony neighbourhood of Rosedale.

Regardless of its origins, this well used access path is under severe stress. Whenever it rains, water sluices down the middle of the path creating deep furrows. This creates a hazard for both cyclists and pedestrians as they try to navigate the path.

This fall the city has decided to do some repair work. A new path will be constructed. When completed, the path will be raised in the middle with drainage ditches on the side to collect runoff. Cedar rail fencing will delineate the path but also limit dogs to the path to protect the fragile forest slope on either side of the path. In addition, informal paths that lace the nearby slopes will be closed off to allow for natural forest restoration.

The path is set to reopen, barring unforeseen delays due to weather or site problems, by mid-December 2011. For further information on this project see this page on the city's website.

Milkman's Lane

Rain runoff is creating deep gullies in path

Pottery Road to Open by November 30

2011-10-20T14:26:00.003-04:00

Unstable retaining wall on Pottery Road

Word has it that Pottery Road will be reopened for road traffic by November 30. The problem was due to an unstable retaining wall that was due to the fact that they cut away too much of the slope behind it which led to the possibility of the slope collapsing. The retaining wall as constructed would then have failed.

A engineering solution has been chosen. I don't whether it is a strengthened wall or some sort of slope stabilization (or both) but it should be complete in a month. Work on the rest of the road is nearly complete. In the meantime, the pedestrian/bike path is still usable. I advise caution in its use as construction activities are still on-going.

Relic of ParticipACTION

2011-10-11T07:00:00.003-04:00

Old ParticipACTION fitness station

If you're going through Taylor Creek Park you may notice this odd set of stumps painted a faded green. Behind it is a single tall post painted the same colour. If you didn't know what it was you might think, maybe an unusual rest stop or maybe some strange outdoor urban art. Yet for those who have been around awhile, you'll recognize it as a relic of a moribund fitness program created by a Federal government initiative entitled ParticipACTION. This program which was started sometime in the late 70's (and apparently is still active) was created to try and get Canadians more physically active. In a few Toronto parks they created a series of fitness stations where you would do a series of calisthenics You were then supposed to jog to the next station. The post at the back had a sign mounted at the top to demonstrate the exercise. Presumably this station was for some sort of leg exercise.

It seemed like a good idea but it never caught on. These installations were put in place way before there were any fitness clubs. Nowadays, people workout at their company or at the neighbourhood gym. Fitness in parks is relegated to walking the dog or riding bicycles. Now we're left with a series of rotting relics. How quaint.

New Wetland in Taylor Creek Park

2011-10-05T09:12:00.004-04:00

New wetland under construction

The Taylor Creek Park ravine is blessed with several areas of natural water discharge which has created marshy areas at the bottom of both sides of the ravines. These manifest themselves as cattail covered wet areas that are not too interesting from either an aesthetic or ecological perspective. One step up from a cattail fen is an open water pond. Ponds have a much greater diversity potential allowing habitat for mammals, birds, and amphibians. Since this ravine has been highly modified by human activities over the past 100 years, all of the natural ponds were filled in. From a natural environment perspective it makes sense to improve habitat by recreating them.

This has recently occurred just west of the O'Connor Bridge. A new wetland has been excavated in one of the cattail fens. The area is covered in natural water that flows into the nearby Taylor-Massey Creek. It doesn't look like much now but by next year this time it should look more like the new wetland further up the valley.

Mallard duck checking out the new pond

Pottery Road Open (for Bikes)

2011-09-26T12:14:00.005-04:00

Pottery Road closed at Broadview Avenue

A recent article in the Toronto Star highlighted the recent makeover of Pottery Road which apparently isn't going all that well. Apparently the slope behind a new retaining wall is unstable and they can't guarantee that it won't collapse so they've put the reopening on hold until they figure it out.

While the article said that car traffic is disrupted, they neglected to mention that the new bicycle/walking path is complete and fully available for use. A sign at the top of the hill says the path is closed but you can safely ignore it. The path which is separated from the road by jersey barriers is about 2m wide and fully paved. Caution is still warranted as the railing on the hill side hasn't been fully installed.

So too bad about cars but cyclists and hikers can rejoice!

Sidewalk sign says closed, use other sidewalk but there is no other sidewalk (hint: ignore sign)

Looking down the hill - brand new pavement

Looking up the hill. Retaining wall in question on the left

Wide path beside road. Todmorden Mills on the right, Fantasy Farm on the left

Expanded path underneath the DVP

New connection to Lower Don trail

Intersection at Bayview now includes a pedestrian crosswalk. The other side leads to an narrow paved median which can be used (with caution) to access the Brick Works.

Another view of the intersection at Bayview

Leaside Spur I: Orphan Trail Needs Linkages

2011-09-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Map of the spur (the image is a little small. Click on it for larger image)
Legend:

south end of the trail
informal path and remnant track
crossing at Lawrence Avenue East
crossing at Tallwood Park
crossing at Bond Road
north end of trail
York Mills Road

Starting just north of Eglinton Ave. East, just east of Leslie Street is a little known railpath which was once known as the Leaside spur. It starts just north of Eglinton, crosses Lawrence Ave. East and ends just south of York Mills. It once served the industrial area of south Don Mills and also served as an important cross link between the CP tracks to the south and the CN tracks to the north. In 2003 the city bought the right-of-way and turned into a walking trail. However, it is of little use as it starts and ends nowhere.

Up until now it has seen little use other than the occasional neighbourhood dog walker. But recently it has been resurrected as a possible part of the mayor's vision to create a city wide network of off-road trails.

A recent article in Grid TO prompted me to go take a look for myself. Here is what I found. From the southern start north to Bond Road the trail has been covered with a new layer of gravel, likely in preparation for a layer of asphalt. There are three places where it intersects with existing trails and circles of brick have been placed there to demarcate the crossing. At Lawrence Ave. East a new signalled crossing has been constructed although it is not yet in operation.
The new trail construction ends at Bond Road.

North of this point the trail continues but it is in the same state as the original walking trail. It is still covered in loose stone and cinder block that makes walking difficult let alone cycling. The trail ends again where it meets the CN main line just where it leaves the Don Valley on its way north to Richmond Hill.

There's more to this story than just these pictures. In a second installment I'll look at planned and proposed uses for this trail.

South end of trail (#1). Beyond fence is CP rail main line that crosses Eglinton Ave. East just east of Leslie St.

Informal trail leads to one of the properties on Leslie Street. The trail continues on the other side of the tracks

Just north of the informal trail you can see a remnant of an old spur (#2)

Last remaining track beside warehouse that is now used by Canadian Tire.

New crossing at Lawrence Ave. East under construction (#3)

Trail intersects with another path (#4) that leads to Talwood Park (to the west) and Duncairn Park (to the east)

New surfacing to end at Bond Road (#5)

Trail continues north of Bond Road. Note loose gravel surface that was hard to walk or ride on

North end of rail path (#6). Beyond is the CN rail main line

York Mills bridge across tracks can be seen to the north (#7)

Back at it

2011-09-14T13:20:00.001-04:00

This year I've been busy with school, work, and home renovations. This has left little time to go exploring in the Don. However, lots of things are still happening and I plan to get back into blogging all about it.

Duncan Creek Improvements

2011-06-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

EA Notice

The City of Toronto has initiated a Class B Environmental Assessment regarding restoration plans for Duncan Creek. This is a small tributary of German Mills Creek. The open part of the creek runs from Don Mills and McNicoll northwest to just east of Leslie and Steeles. It runs through a shallow ravine bordered by a pedestrian/cycling path.

There will be a public open house on July 11, 7-9 PM at Cummer Park Community Centre which is at 6000 Leslie St. (SW corner of Leslie and McNicoll).

The full notice is available on the city website.

Wilket Creek Channel Improvements

2011-06-26T10:37:00.003-04:00

Notice

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority hgas initiated a Class B Enviornmental Assessment regarding improvement to the stream channel within the Wilket Creek ravine between Edwards Gardens south to where it joins the West Don River near Leslie and Eglinton.

I have previously blogged about this issue. The priority for this assessment will be to protect the underlying storm sewer system in this ravine and to ensure that the predestrian/cycling path is not damaged during subsequent floods. The natural environment including natural stream function and aquatic habitat are unfortunately secondary issues.

There will be an open house at a building called the Sunnybrook Park Pavilion on June 29, 2011, 6-8 PM to present the objectives of the study.

A prayer for the Don River

2011-06-22T06:56:00.002-04:00

O Thou in Whom we Live and Move and Have our Being,
The Power that can Make all Things New,
Bless the Living Waters of the Don River,
Bless the waters that flow from her head to her mouth,
Keep her waters clean and pure,
Bless the waters that fall as rain, sleet or snow upon her,
May all the waters be living waters blessed with your Light and Love,
Nurturing and support plant, animal and human life,
Touch the hearts of humankind everywhere with a spirit of reverence,
For this great gift of the Living Waters in the Beautiful Don River.

Courtesy of Freda Kemp from Facebook page for Friends of the Don East.

Bring Back the Don in Limbo

2011-05-24T21:20:00.000-04:00

At the May city council meeting, there was a debate about the fate of the city's advisory committees. The discussion which spanned late Wednesday night and Thursday morning was long and convoluted. Several councillors stood up and made passionate defences for some of the committees. This mirrored the impassioned pleas (which fell on deaf ears) of some of our citizens. Some even suggested forming brand new advisory committees. I won't bore you with the details but the upshot was that only the Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee was re-established. All the remaining ones including the Task Force to Bring Back the Don were referred back to the mayor's office for further consideration. Another discussion will take place at the July council meeting.

While the Task Force is not quite dead we are currently in limbo. We can't hold meetings and can't make decisions. We can't recruit new members which is a priority for us and we certainly can't spend any money. Our main projects - the Don Trail and the Cottonwood Flats restoration project are up in the air.

The mayor was in favour of shutting us down but he couldn't muster enough votes to do so. What will come out of this two month hiatus is anyone's guess.

**Update** The National Post has weighed in with a pro/con debate on the advisory committee issue. Worth a read for a more in-depth look at this topic.

Spring Ephemerals

2011-05-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Trout lilies in Crothers' Woods

Spring this year has been cool, rainy and cloudy. When are the warm sunny spring days going to get here? However one beneficiary of this kind of spring are a group of forest herbaceous plants called spring ephemerals. These plants flower early, taking advantage of the sun before trees leaf out and shade the forest floor. With the cool spring it means that trees have been slow to produce leaves and this has resulted in a bumper year for spring ephemerals.

These types of plants are usually seen in more rural forests but there are some remnants of quality forest habitat remaining in the Don valley and other ravines in Toronto. If you know where to look you can find some stunningly beautiful flowers. However trees are finally starting to produce leaves so the time left to view spring ephemerals is growing short. I predict that many of these plants will be past their prime by mid May.

Jack-in-the-pulpit

Early meadow rue

Bloodroot

White trillium

Blue cohosh

It's Spring Planting Season

2011-05-08T10:22:00.003-04:00

Planting in Taylor Creek Park

Spring is here so that means it tree planting season! Planting activities are in full swing and as usual there are plenty of events happening. Some future events to keep in mind;

Friends of the Don East. Two more events on May 28 and June 4.

Taylor Massey Project. They have a planting on May 14.

City of Toronto. This list includes events from across the city including the Don.

Community Stewardship. Want a little more than tree planting? Sign up for the community stewardship program. There are four sites in the Don Valley.

School planting in E.T. Seton Park

Vandalism a Sad End to Park Feature

2011-05-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Wrecked barbecue in Taylor Creek Park

I was passing through Taylor Creek Park on the weekend when I spotted this sad site. Someone decided to bust up this barbecue site just west of Dawes Road. In the old Metro days the city placed barbecue ovens in local parks for the benefit of park users. Fast forward to today and it is now city policy that these are no longer maintained. All the original ones are slowing deteriorating when they fall apart they are not replaced. It may be that there are now more portable bbq alternatives then there were 30 years ago but it just strikes me as a sad reminder of how parks used to be run in the city. Who remembers the "Please walk on the grass" signs?

Wetland Survived Winter (a little worse for wear)

2011-05-01T22:17:00.003-04:00

Wetland, spring 2011

I visited the Taylor Creek wetland this weekend. I was doing stewardship there last year and wanted to check out how things are looking. From a natural perspective things are looking good. However, the manmade constructs - not so good. When they built the wetland they installed a round viewing area that juts out into the pond. This provides a panoramic view of the pond and is a popular place for visitors to take in the sites. The viewing area consists of an interpretive sign, a gravel covered walkway and the viewing area is lined with large stone blocks. Unfortunately, it was poorly constructed. The large blocks were placed on a layer of smaller stones. These stones were affected by ice or frost during the winter. During the spring thaw the stone underlayer gave way and now all the large blocks are sagging forward toward the water. Two of the blocks have rolled into the water leaving gaps in the wall. It would have been better to mount the stones with another set of large blocks underneath. This would have been more expensive but would have lasted longer.

Stone blocks surrounding viewing stand are sagging or have collapsed into pond

On the plus side, I spotted a muskrat swimming in the pond. Of course I had put my camera away just before it swam by. I waited for awhile for it to reappear but a dog walker and dog (unleashed) came by and it disappeared. I suppose it will try and make a home here. The conditions are right except for the periodic inundation of stormwater/sewage from a nearby outlet and the ongoing menace from unleashed dogs. Still, muskrats are adaptable to urban environments and it may survive.

Garbage dump

On a down note I discovered a small cache of garbage dumped at the parking lot near Dawes Road. It is mostly broken furniture and shelving. I notified 311 and hopefully it will be removed soon.

Bring Back the Don on the Chopping Block

2011-04-22T09:05:00.005-04:00

OK folks, the fix was in. Despite 80 emails and 42 (28) deputants, the Executive Committee decided to pass the item to axe the advisory committees without any changes or debate. I am particularly disgusted by the manner in which this meeting was run. Of the 12 items up for discussion, the item on the advisory committees was the one that drew the most attention from the public. Yet the executive decided to handle all 11 other items before tackling this one. This meant that all the deputants were left waiting from 9:30 AM to nearly 5:00 PM before they were allowed to speak. 14 of the speakers did not come back after the lunch break but 28 soldiered on waiting for their chance to speak.

When they did speak, few questions were asked. From 5:00 PM to 9:20 PM when they moved the item the most discussion centred on who would stay in the room to maintain quorum (5 councillors) while other members went off to do something else. Only one councillor, Jaye Robinson, chose to discuss the item. She tried to move an amendment to allow for more discussion but this was voted down 6-4 (amazingly, 3 councillors sided with her against the mayor).

I might have been OK with this except that no one in the city consulted with us about whether the Task Force had finished its mandate. It was all done in secret with no discussion.

So now our only alternative for recourse is to hope for a reversal at city council on May 17. Some recent goings on at council gives us at least a faint hope that opponents of the mayor will must enough backing to save us. If this matters to you, write or contact your local councillor and let them know how you feel about this.

More on this later.

"The Camp" Cleaned Up

2011-04-09T11:20:00.004-04:00

The Camp, summer 2010

Same view, Spring 2011

Last fall I reported that the city was going in to cleanup the biking areas known as Dirt Jumps and The Camp. Both areas are in the vicinity of Crothers Woods. Originally I thought that both areas would be remediated but apparently the city was just interested in cleaning up the camp, likely due to the multitude of wooden structures. DJs on the other hand is mostly earth and sand built mounds so this was left untouched. The Camp was cleaned up. All the wooden structures were removed. There was only a few bits and pieces left behind.

I can't say that I am disappointed but there really is no alternative outlet for the kids who were using this site. What'll happen now is that the builders will just find some other secluded ravine and start the building process all over again. Until the city creates a comparable facility our natural area ravines will be the unfortunate recipients of these types of places.

Ramp jump perched at top of slope

Ramp jump location now. You can just make out four stumps of posts where they were sawed off.

Back at it

2011-04-09T08:05:00.002-04:00

Chester Springs Marsh in early spring

After four months spent at school I am thankful that it's over and will be getting out into the valley again. I went on a short tour yesterday and noticed a few things. Everything is still pretty much drab browns and greys but there are signs of life. Here's a shot of Chester Springs Marsh looking north to the Bloor Viaduct.

Don Watcher Taking a Break

2011-02-05T11:32:00.003-05:00

Fear not loyal followers, Don Watcher is not dead, just taking a break while I complete my studies which is taking an inordinate amount of my time this winter. I should be back to regular postings this spring. In the meantime, I will keep up the Twitter updates you can see on the sidebar, plus there might be the occasional posting such as the one below.

Reds and Browns

2011-02-01T07:40:00.000-05:00

Fruit of the Staghorn Sumac

Dessicated leaf on the stem of a Cup plant

The scenes during winter in the valley are more muted then they are in spring and summer. But are just as interesting. Here I have taken shots of two plants near the Beechwood Wetland. Right next to the road is a stand of Sumac and a cluster of Cup plants. In the winter all that is left on the brown spindly stalks of sumac are the reddish brown fruits of the shrubby tree. Sumac are widely planted since they provide valuable winter fodder for birds and small animals during the winter when other food sources have disappeared.

While there is nothing left of the Cup plant but a tall stalk and a few dried leaves it is still possible to see some beauty in the remains. I took these photos because they stood out amongst the background of grey and brown.

Death Knell for DJs

2010-12-09T23:21:00.003-05:00

Sign posted at entrance to Dirt Jumps

Directly east of the North Toronto Sewage Treatment Plant is an area locally known as the "Flats". This area has been used for several years by the cycling community as a location for stunt cycling with BMX style bicycles. It is a popular cycling destination and has the advantage of being relatively secluded and off the beaten path. In addition the sandy soil makes it perfect for building dirt jumps which gives it the nickname DJs. One big downside for the site is that it only accessible by crossing the CN railroad tracks. While there are constructed pathways that allow you to get underneath the railroad bridges at either end of the Flats, the main problem for the city is that four-letter word: liability. If someone were to get seriously injured there is no way to get emergency vehicles in there. An injured person would have to be carried out.

This issue was identified in the Crothers' Woods Trail Management Strategy and since 2007 has been identified as a place to be shut down. Some wheels turn really slow in the city so it was only recently that the decision was made and this week signs were posted in the vicinity. Early next week, work crews will move in and dismantle all the constructed wooden material at this site and the nearby Dirt Camp. It is not clear but I imagine that the earthen jumps will also be levelled rendering the site unusable for cycling activities.

I've been somewhat ambivalent about this site. I know it impinges on potentially valuable habitat and the excavated holes have no doubt damaged tree roots and prevented any type of natural regeneration from happening. Still the presence of this site and its popularity means that there is a demand for this activity in the city. I always felt that it was better to leave this site alone until other facilities were constructed to replace it. Sadly, no such facilities have been built nearby. The closest official site is Bayview and Finch, not easily accessible by local kids. If this site is shut down then some other site will no doubt spring up somewhere else in the valley.

Three Bridges

2010-12-08T15:50:00.002-05:00

I went for a ride in through E.T. Seton Park yesterday and took this photo. An interesting perspective where you can see three bridges. The first is the new footbridge across the West Don River, the second is the old arched bridge going over the old channel and the third is the CP railway bridge in the background.

Another Blog for the Don

2010-11-03T00:29:00.002-04:00

I just received word of a new group fighting to preserve a section of the West Don River in Vaughan in the vicinity of Highway 407. The group called Save Concord West is trying to get a proposed new GO station moved out of the valley. They have also discovered a rare an endangered Blanding's Turtle living in the area. Check out their web site.

Wilket Creek: Troubled Watercourse

2010-10-23T21:40:00.005-04:00

Map of Wilket Creek (click to enlarge)

Wilket Creek is a tributary of the Don River. Its headwaters (now buried) were once in the Willowdale and Sheppard area of North York. It appears above ground northwest of Bayview and York Mills and continues open until it joins the West Don River near Leslie and Eglinton Avenue East. Except for a short section just north of Lawrence Avenue East the creek travels through public parks. There are two ponds, one in Windfields Park and the other in Edwards Gardens. Both are manmade and kept in place by small dams. The most well known section is the Wilket Creek ravine that runs between Edwards Gardens and the Don River. This section is also the most problematic and in recent years has been hit hard by flooding.

Recently signs have appeared at the entrances to the Wilket Creek ravine. The signs talk about the start of a geomorphic assessment of the creek. In lay person's language they are going to study the way water flows through the river channel and why flooding is causing damage to the trails and bridges.

The Toronto Region Conservation Authority put the study out to tender and a local company called Parish Geomorphic won the bid. They will study the creek and make recommendations for improvements. For all this they will be paid about $300,000. This may sound like a lot of money but it you want scientific expertise it costs money. Parish did a similar study on Burke Brook a little upstream so they have local experience.

The study will map out the creek in detail and will describe physical conditions of the creek bed and underlying soils. It will also map the natural water input as well as the manmade stormwater sewers that feed into the creek. It is the latter that is the main culprit for flooding. Most of the water that falls on the surrounding neigbourhoods ends up in the creek. When it rains heavily this is a lot of water. In August 2005, July 2008, and July 2009 there was so much water flowing in the creek that it destroyed the pedestrian bridges and obliterated the walking path through the ravine.

Woody debris choking river channel under a bridge in July, 2008

Winter 2009. Note the wide channel and scoured banks

It's a well known fact that too much water is flowing through Wilket Creek during storms. I'm a little puzzled by the need for a full blown study and I can't see that they are going to come up with anything really new. Basically what they will find is that Wilket Creek is a typical urban stream with several storm sewers that can dump large amounts of stormwater into the creek very quickly. All this water overwhelms the creek and the fast water overflows its small channel. The small pedestrian bridges and the cheap asphalt paths are no match for all this water and are easily damaged.

There's an easy sounding solution for all this - reduce the stormwater flows into the creek. Remove the excess water and the problem is solved. Unfortunately, diverting the stormwater means very expensive underground diversion to storage tanks and pipes. Building this will take considerable finances and political will.

So perhaps the purpose of the study is to give someone sufficient reason to build these systems. In order to spend millions of dollars on vital infrastructure you need an expensive study done by a reputed company and not just the opinions of concerned volunteer citizens who know the area but don't have the credentials to back them up.

Sign posted at mouth of Wilket Creek

Fall Scenes

2010-10-14T11:35:00.003-04:00

A sumac grove in Earl Bales Park showing its bright red colour

Fall is one of my favourite times for walking and bicycling in the Don. The weather is moderate and the irritating bugs are few. Not only that but the colours along the ravine slopes are beautiful at this time of the year.

There are several places in the Don where you can see good vistas. Besides the places mentioned in these photos you can also visit Sunnybrook Park, Moccasin Trail Park and the East Don Parklands.

Yellows and Oranges showing in E.T. Seton Park

More colours in Crothers' Woods

311 and the Don

2010-09-30T14:56:00.003-04:00

Tree down across path in Moore Park Ravine

One of the big problems with the Toronto's city bureaucracy is that is, well, big. There are approximately 50,000 employees doing a multitude of tasks that keep the city running smoothly (more or less). There is a raft of divisions and departments from Parks and Recreation to Culture, Social Services, Transportation, to name a few. Each of these divisions are subdivided in complex ways that make them labyrinthine and hard to connect. In addition there is not enough communication between them which makes some tasks even more difficult. I have heard these divisions describes as silos, an apt description.

Unfortunately for the Don, many of these departments have some responsibility tied to the Don Valley for different aspects of the valley. For example, Transportation deals with the Don Valley Parkway, Works deals with sewers and water, Culture deals with relics such as the Don Valley Brick Works, and Social Services deals with the homeless. Not the least of which is Parks, Forestry and Recreation which has maybe the largest responsibility. Even within Parks it is sometimes difficult to find who is responsible for something because of geography. The Don River acts as a natural border for jurisdictions. There might be two different park supervisors responsible for the west and east banks of the river. Not only that but these people are often moved periodically which makes it even more difficult to get in touch with someone.

In comes the 311 call centre. Now with a simple phone call or email, the call centre can direct your query to the right department or person in order to solve a problem. As an example, in August I came across a tree fallen down over the path in the Mud Creek ravine. I took a picture of the situation and sent it with an email to 311 describing where it was and that it should be removed. A couple of weeks later, I went back and it was cleared away.

This is just to let you know, you can do the same. For simple things like a tree fallen down or garbage dumped in a park a call or an email to 311 is all it takes. If you do make a call, be sure to get a reference number. That way you can follow up with your request to see what action is being taken.

Same place a few weeks later

The tree in question

Fuel Spill in the Don

2010-08-16T21:37:00.004-04:00

Map of fuel tank location and nearby stormwater outlet on Don River

On Sunday a fuel spill occurred that emptied into the Don River. What happened was that a construction crew excavating behind a Staples depot on Vanderhoof Avenue uncovered a large fuel tank buried in the ground. No one knew it existed but local historians suspect that it was a leftover relic from the days when the site was used as an airfield. The Leaside Aerodrome closed in the 1930s but they left the tank buried in the ground, forgotten until now.

In the process of digging up the tank it was ruptured and the contents exposed to the air. It was scheduled to be pumped out on Monday but a torrential downpour on Sunday caused the fuel to flow out of the tank. The fuel emptied into a nearby sewer which quickly led to a storm sewer outlet on the Don River. Fortunately a passerby noticed the problem and the spill was quickly contained. Today as I was passing by I saw the cleanup efforts well underway.

Many people assume that the Don is polluted and they are right. It used to be that the problems came from industrial sources like this but those days are long gone and spills are few and far between. Most of the pollution comes from stormwater runoff. Whenever there is a big rainfall (like this weekend), the rain is quickly diverted into storm sewers which empty directly into the river. The rain picks up detritus from our roads and lawns. In addition, in the Lower Don sanitary sewage mixes with storm water and the combined effluent adds to the rainwater runoff.

If there is any benefit to this fuel spill it is that it highlights the connection between the sewer grate on your street and pollution in the Don River. Think about that next time you want to soap down your car in the driveway. Now you know where that soapy water will end up!

Backhoe lifting derelict fuel tank

Workers in Don River putting a boom in place to contain the spill

Closeup of the stormwater outlet. You can see some of the oily slick on top of the water.

Tanker trucks being used to vacuum up the oil

New Road for the Don

2010-07-21T11:23:00.004-04:00

Access road under construction

If you've passed by the mouth of Taylor-Massey Creek recently you will have noticed a considerable amount of construction activity. In addition to the sewer project that is taking up part of the parking lot in Taylor Creek Park there is also another related project occurring on the north side of the creek. Toronto Water is busy blazing a new road up the East Don (see map). The purpose of this road is to allow them to access to maintenance wells so that they can access a sewer that runs through the East Don ravine. The sewer was built in the 1960s when the city was more concerned about building things than about natural spaces.

The sewer which is now about 50 years old requires some monitoring and possible maintenance. In order to inspect the sewer they need to lower a camera mounted on a robot into the sewer so they can look inside. The monitoring equipment and the robot are quite substantial thus a road is required to get it to the access grates.

The road is following the path of an old construction road laid down by the TRCA in 1999 so that they could do some slope remediation. The new road will go past the slope and extend another 400m east alongside the river.

Eventually the road will be used by Parks to establish a trail through the Charles Sauriol Preserve that will link up with parks further north such as Milne Hollow and Moccasin Trail.

Restored part of old construction road. New armour stone is on right, river is on the left

Another section showing riprap lining bank

Some of the construction vehicles parked in the staging area just north of Taylor-Massey Creek

First Resident of the Don

2010-07-19T07:49:00.002-04:00

Groundhog spotted at Lakeshore Blvd. East and Don Roadway

I was going by the mouth of the river last week just where Lakeshore Blvd. East crosses the river at the Don Roadway. Immediately south of the bridge the Don River enters the Keating Channel. Just at the southwest corner of the intersection I spotted a groundhog (Marmota monax) coming out of a hole from underneath the bridge abutment.

There is a bit of debate whether the Don River ends here or whether the mouth is actually where the Keating Channel enters the harbour west of Cherry Street. The effects of the harbour and the lake water actually extends further up the channel to around Eastern Avenue. To my mind the Keating Channel right turn elbow demarcates the end of the river. Therefore this groundhog would be living in the place closest to the mouth of the river.

I've seen groundhogs in several places in the Don Valley. They are a pretty common species and have adapted to urban conditions. Groundhogs are herbivores so I guess the grassy roadside next to the Don Roadway makes for some pretty easy living. This one was pretty nonchalant and sat by his hole watching me for 10 minutes as I snapped several pictures. As I fiddled with my camera looking for the video setting, it scurried into its den so I only have a few still photos from the encounter.

Lower Don Sign II

2010-07-02T07:59:00.003-04:00

Latest cleaning job gets rid of most graffiti

I am kind of ambivalent about interpretive signs in the Don these days. At first I thought these were a great idea. Educate the public, raise awareness about the natural environment, etc. Unfortunately not everyone is so high-minded. These signs have attracted an unusual amount of vandalism in the form of graffiti tags. Some of the signs have become so bad they are unreadable. The city does not have the resources to keep up with the maintenance and removal has been haphazard at best. The result is a sad collection of ugly signage in the Don.

The sign on the Lower Don Trail just north of the Riverdale Park footbridge has been the unlucky target for the worst of the tagging. After a couple of attempts at getting the city to clean it up and at least one time when I cleaned it myself, I have given up on this sign. That was 16 months ago. However, as I passed by it yesterday I noticed that it has been cleaned up once again. Most of the paint has been removed and the sign is now legible again (although you can still see it has been through the wars).

Sadly I expect this sign will be covered in another month with a new coating of graffiti. It may be time to rethink our signage strategy for the Lower Don.

Path in Crothers' Woods

2010-06-17T17:19:00.004-04:00

Path in Crothers' Woods

Since I've been too busy it seems to do much blogging, I thought I'd fill in some dead space with some pictures from my archives. This picture is from Crothers' Woods June 2009. I liked the foliage that has grown up beside the path which was built in 2008. Can anybody guess where this is?

Spring Wildflowers

2010-05-22T11:29:00.005-04:00

Here's a few pictures of wildflowers I have seen in the Don Valley this spring. All of the pictures except the Spring Beauties are from the Lower Don and neighbouring tributary ravines.

Canada Mayflower

Wild Sarsaparilla

Virginia Waterleaf
\

May Apple

Toothwort

Spring Beauties

Trout Lily

Wild Geranium

White and Purple Violet

False Solomon's Seal

Wild Coffee

Pottery Road Work Postponed Til 2011

2010-05-20T22:31:00.000-04:00

In Bring Back the Don's Spring 2010 newsletter, it was reported that Pottery Road would be closed for construction for 6 months starting in June. I've just learned that this work is to be postponed until 2011. The reasons are due to other road work priorities and staffing issues in the engineering planner's office.

Mute Swan Nesting on Don Debris

2010-05-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

Lakeshore Blvd. East bridge at mouth of Don

I was passing by the mouth of the Don recently and noticed something odd underneath the Lakeshore Blvd. East bridge. Next to one of the bridge abutments is a pile of sticks and debris that often collects beside the river. This stuff is eventually washed away during a heavy storm. However, this pile of sticks seems to have attracted the attention of a pair of Mute Swans and they have taken it over as their spring nesting site.

Nesting site

The Mute Swan is an introduced species in North America native to Europe and parts of Asia. There is some evidence to suggest that the species is becoming invasive in the Great Lakes region and control measures may need to be implemented. There is at least one group that claims the species is native to North America and needs to be protected but the U.S government disputes this assertion. So far these birds are not a big problem in the Don. Native species such as the Trumpeter Swan are also rare but this is due to lack of habitat.

For this pair of birds things appear to be OK for now but it could be bad news if there is heavy downpour in the next few weeks. If you're rooting for these swans, then cross your fingers and hope for the rest of May to be dry.

Mother appears to be doing fine. Swan lovers will wish for a dry spring

Invasive Species of the Don: Garlic Mustard

2010-05-15T08:32:00.005-04:00

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) showing flowers, seeds and leaves

A few years ago I wrote a blog post called the Top 5 Threats to the Don. At the time I thought that each of these would make a good post but I soon realized that they all were much larger and complex than could be fit into a single post. The second item, non-native invasive species is one of these complex items. I thought that this year I would try to tackle this item as a photo essay about individual species. This is the first of these posts.

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a non-native invasive plant species that is one of the problem species in the Don Valley. Actually it is causing problems throughout southern Ontario but it grows especially well in disturbed conditions of which the Don has more than enough such places.

Introduced from Europe as an edible herb, it has escaped cultivation and has invaded our natural areas. It grows in a variety of light conditions from full sun to shady forest understory. It is found in all types of soil except for very wet conditions. Garlic mustard is a biennial meaning that it lives for two years. In the first year a low basal rosette of leaves grows and it remains green throughout the fall and winter. In the following spring the plant grows a stem and flowers. Plants can range from a few centimetres to about a metre in height. It produces small four petaled white flowers which is a characteristic of the mustard family. Soon after flowering, seed pods emerge which first appears as thin green sticks standing upright around the flower stalks. Each seed pod can contain up to 20 seeds. A large plant can produce hundreds of seeds.

In addition to producing plentiful seed, the seeds that it does produce can remain viable for up to 11 years in the soil so that makes it very hard to get rid of it. Animals like deer who naturally feed on forest plants are not used to Garlic Mustard and avoid it, eating other native plants. This creates a positive feedback loop which allows Garlic Mustard to spread even faster.

First year Garlic Mustard rosette in early spring

If all this isn't bad enough, it turns out that garlic mustard is allelopathic. In other words, the roots produce a toxin which kills soil fungi. Many native plants have formed symbiotic relationships with a group of fungi called mycorrhizae. These organisms wrap tiny tethers called hyphae around the roots of plants. The hyphae gather water and nutrients from the soil and transfer it to the plant. In exchange the plant trades sugars and starches gained through photosynthesis for water and nutrients that the fungi collects. When these soil fungi are removed, this inhibits the growth of native plants in our ecosystem.

Another problem that has been noticed is that in areas of abundant garlic mustard tree seedlings are not as successful as they should be. Garlic mustard seems to inhibit their growth. This combination of hardiness, plentiful seed production, allelopathy, and ecosystem effects means that Garlic Mustard can soon overwhelm a natural site and become the dominant species. In some cases the only species growing is Garlic Mustard.

Forest understory in the lower Don Valley. 99% of the plants on the ground are Garlic Mustard

Garlic Mustard is not just limited to parks and ravines. It is also making its way into gardens. What can be done about this nasty invader? Hand pulling is the recommended method. To remove it grasp it tightly as close to the ground as possible and gently pull. Try to get as much of the root as possible because some root fragments have been known to resprout. The roots are not that deep and should be easy to pull out intact.

If you want to help protect our natural areas from this plant and others like it you can join one of the the city's Community Stewardship teams. This volunteer program runs during the spring and summer and helps to protect some of the Don's more important natural areas. Teams meet once per week and remove Garlic Mustard and other non-native invaders.

Roots of a typical plant

Discard the plant into the regular garbage or the kitchen green bin. Don't put it into your garden composter because it will only become contaminated with Garlic Mustard seeds. For large amounts you can put them into a yard waste bag for city pickup.

Don Council Tour

2010-05-08T09:20:00.004-04:00

Kortright Centre

A couple of weeks ago I went on a bus tour of around the Don watershed. Actually one location was in the Humber watershed at the Kortright Centre where we stopped for lunch. The tour was prepared on behalf of the Don Watershed Regeneration Council which has been recently reconstituted with a new group of members. The current council consists of a mix of new and returning members and a mix of young and old, male and female. The council which was created by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority is made up of representatives of non-profit groups interested in Don Watershed restoration efforts and private citizens who are interested in the environment. I sit on the council as a representative of Friends of the Don East.

The current mandate of the Don Council is to press forward with the implementation of the Don Watershed Plan created by the TRCA.

The tour started at Yonge and York Mills and looked at the West Don River where it runs through a flood control channel. There is a project that will clean out part of the river basin that has become clogged with debris. The project is somewhat controversial because the debris and silt have been there for so long that substantial trees have since grown there.

G. Ross Lord reservoir

The second stop was the G. Ross Lord Dam up by Dufferin and Finch. The dam which was built in the 1970s by the TRCA is used for flood control on the west Don. The reservoir is big enough to hold 5 million cubic metres of water. This may sound like a lot but it filled up during the August 2005 storm. This was the storm that washed out Finch Avenue where it crosses Black Creek.

For lunch we stopped at the Kortright Centre where we were given a tour of some sustainable living features that the TRCA is showcasing for local developers. All of the features use current technologies to help reduce the footprint buildings have in the watershed.

Richmond Hill stormwater pond

The 4th stop was a stormwater pond in Richmond Hill and the 5th stop was at the East Don Parklands wetland which I previously wrote about. The last stop was at Earl Bales Park. This featured a tour of a new stormwater pond due to be built in the southeast corner of the park.

Council members mucking about in East Don Parklands

Earl Bales Stormwater Pond

2010-05-01T09:32:00.006-04:00

Site of stormwater pond (click to enlarge)

Schematic of proposed pond in the valley. The light green area at the top right is the golf course.

A couple of schematic drawings of the pond. A path on a causeway will lead to a lookout and interpretive area.

This summer a major construction project will take place on the West Don at the southeast corner of Earl Bales Park. This project which is the culmination of several years of planning will create a stormwater management pond that will capture storm water before it enters the Don River. The pond location is at the base of two creeks, Earl Bales Creek and Dehavilland Creek. Both creeks used to run west towards the Downsview Park area but are now mostly buried in storm sewers. The remnants of their ravines are now confined to the park east of Bathurst Ave. Both of these ravines are severely degraded due to flash flooding from storm water.

Outfall from former DeHavilland Creek. This will be diverted into the new pond

The purpose of the pond is to capture the stormwater before it enters the river. Stormwater and its resultant pollution is the single most important environmental problem affecting the Don River today. When rain falls on a watershed, the water is either absorbed by trees and other vegetation or percolates into the ground. The water eventually enters the river at a steady rate. However, in an urban watershed like the Don, ground cover is dominated by roads and buildings. Water falling on these areas is quickly diverted into storm sewers where it floods into the river. These flash flood events tend to scour out the creeks and rivers. The water picks up dirt and mud and other things. All the suspended material including whatever pollutants from the roads (road salt, oil, grease, etc.) is washed into the river which severely degrades available habitat for fish and other water dwelling organisms. The Don River used to be a healthy river teeming with fish but not any longer. The "Muddy Don" got its nickname because we made it that way.

This stormwater pond is just one small aspect of the slow process of river restoration. Its main purpose will be to stop the stormwater from quickly entering the river. The water will be stored here until the suspended material has had a chance to settle to the bottom of the pond. It is estimated that 20% of the 35,000 cubic metres of silt annually dredged from the mouth of the Don River comes from the Earl Bales park area.

The pond site looking southwest toward the foot of Westgate Blvd.

Looking northeast

The pond will also act as a reservoir for two nearby water uses. The Don Valley Golf Course currently draws water from the river for its grass watering needs. The Earl Bales Ski Hill also does the same for snow making during the winter. After the pond is built the water will be taken from the pond instead.

The pond will provide limited habitat for some wildlife. However it will not be a fully functioning wetland since it will need to be periodically dredged which will cause major disturbances in the pond. Yet overall, the effect will be an improvement in the overall health of the river and the Don Valley. I hope to visit the site a couple of times this year to document progress on this project.

Notice of construction at entrance to the valley at Westgate Blvd.

Renegade Builders Test City's Patience

2010-04-28T07:00:00.002-04:00

New addition to 'Dirt Camp' is a maze of narrow wooden trestles

Just across from the CN railway tracks near the North Toronto Sewage Treatment Plant is an area known amongst the local biking community as DJs or Dirt Jumps. This is an area where earthen jumps and berms have been constructed. It's a popular place with many users. Just north of DJs is another location known as the Dirt Camp. This area is filled with wooden ramps and jumps which are used by BMX cyclists for stunt riding.

When the Crothers' Woods Trail Management Strategy was released in 2007, these places were designated to be eventually closed down. The city recognizes that there is no real alternative to these facilities nearby so there has been an unspoken agreement that these would be left alone until something else was available. There was also a tacit agreement that these areas would not be expanded.

However, this spring, a whole new section was added to the Dirt Camp that effectively doubled its size. The new area includes an intricate network of skinnies and jumps that would challenge even expert riders. In addition more structures have been added to the original area. While all of these built structures are illegal (the relevant bylaw clauses are 608-7 and 608-14), the city was willing to look the other way for awhile. These new builds appear to have aggravated the situation.

Another view of the new section

The build has sparked a lively discussion amongst the biking community about whether the new build should be kept or removed. This appears to be moot since the city has decided to act according to this letter.

Removing these stunts may be an easy short term fix but it won't affect the long term solution which should be a city managed stunt park that is acceptable to the biking community. Unfortunately, there are people out there who like to build and if this place is torn down it is likely they will just move to some other location.

Original 'Dirt Camp' looks well used

New curvy ramp on top of hill comes to an abrupt end overlooking a steep drop

Ramp ending in a 2m drop is only for the bold and a good stunt bike

Elevated Wetlands New Coat of Paint

2010-04-24T22:01:00.003-04:00

View from Don Valley Parkway

If you've been driving up the DVP this winter you may have noticed some changes at the Elevated Wetlands. On the east side, the pod nearest the highway has been painted with 11 wide purple stripes that go from top to bottom. Some may think this is a new addition to the art installation but indeed it is just another form of graffiti. The painting was completely unauthorized. There is no signature and so far no one has stepped forward claiming responsibility.

Pod up close

While not in the same league as defacing Leonardo da Vinci's David statue, is it vandalism nonetheless. Noel Harding (the artist) would no doubt be less than impressed with this new paint scheme. If you visit the pods up close you can see that the middle pod has been artlessly splashed with paint. The city will eventually repaint it to the original colour. In the meantime, passersby can only wonder as to the new meaning.

Middle pod carelessly splashed with paint on one leg

Sewer Project Blocks Taylor Creek Road

2010-04-21T07:00:00.004-04:00

Map of construction area

There is some unusual construction going on at the Forks of the Don. The road that leads to the western Taylor Creek Park parking lot is closed for the month of April. The reason for this is that the road underneath the Don Valley Parkway needs to be lowered to allow for some heavy machinery to access the construction site where they will dig a tunnel for a sewer project.

This particular project is meant to create a bypass around a damaged sewer pipe 60m below the ground that was discovered to be cracked. This pipe carries the sewage for 1/3 of Toronto's residents. If the crack becomes critical and the sewer fails, all the sewage would be diverted into the Don River - a manmade disaster for the Don and the harbour where the polluted water would end up. So repairing the sewer is a critical task. The project involves boring a bypass tunnel around the cracked section. Once the bypass is built the sewage can be rerouted and the damaged section can be drained for inspection. It is hoped that when it is dry it can be repaired.

This is part of a larger project to twin the sewer pipe because right now there is no alternative to the single pipe in use now. It was built in 1958 and it is close to capacity. The entire project (still unfunded) is expected to take another 5-10 years to complete.

Looking east underneath DVP bridge. The Elevated Wetland solar panel tower is on the left.

Looking west underneath bridge. The road has been lowered by about 1.5m.

Construction staging area at south end of parking lot

Todmorden Mills Cleanup 2010

2010-04-18T18:25:00.002-04:00

A small but hardy group picked up litter and garbage at Todmorden Mills

In an April that has seen some unusually warm days, Saturday's chilly wet weather was more to what we are used to. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that only 20 people showed up. Still we picked up a fair bit of litter. I've been attending these events over the past few years (see 2009, 2007, 2006) and I can tell you that there is much less litter than there used to be.

The most interesting piece was part of truck's exhaust pipe which I picked up beside the DVP off-ramp. I lugged the thing back to the building area and put it down. As it hit the ground with a thud, a mouse popped out of the end and sat stunned on the ground. He must have been using the pipe as a home. It didn't take long for him to scurry away. I am sure he found a new home somewhere close by.

Not Dead Yet

2010-04-06T21:19:00.003-04:00

Fear not loyal followers. This blog is not yet moribund. Only temporarily quiescent. A combination of school (exams and essays), home renovations, and a house move are distracting me at the moment. I am tempted to visit the valley but I would feel very guilty that I am neglecting some important personal tasks. After April things lighten up considerably so you'll definitely see more content then.

Don Valley Inukshuk

2010-03-14T22:28:00.001-04:00

This is about the closest thing to an Inukshuk as I've seen in the Don Valley. Anyone happen to know where it is?

Don Valley to Join GTA Greenbelt

2010-02-26T15:45:00.002-05:00

This was just released to the press:

Mayor Miller announces move to grow the Greenbelt in Toronto

Today, Mayor David Miller, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Housing's Jim Bradley and Susan Houston of The Greenbelt Foundation, participated in an announcement of the City's intention to have the Don and Humber River Valleys designated as part of the Greenbelt.

"I can think of no more fitting way to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Ontario's Greenbelt than to have the Don and Humber Rivers become part of it. Torontonians are keen environmentalists and want to see our precious natural resources preserved," said Mayor Miller. "The future addition of these two valleys as requested by City Council would mean all three of our cherished river systems will be protected for generations to come."

This announcement signals the first step in designating the Don and Humber River Valleys are part of this permanently protected natural resource. If accepted by the provincial government after a review process, the Don and Humber River Valleys will join the Rouge River Valley as part of Toronto's additions to the Greenbelt.

"Ontario will continue to support efforts to curb urban sprawl by protecting our valuable farmland, countryside, water resources and wetlands, said Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "On the fifth anniversary of Ontario's incredible Greenbelt, Toronto's decision to pursue Greenbelt expansion is a great step in the right direction."

Ontario's Greenbelt protects 1.8 million acres of environmentally sensitive and agricultural land around the Greater Golden Horseshoe, including the Oak Ridges Moraine and Niagara Escarpment, from urban development.

Here is a link to the staff report on the proposal.

Icy Rock Face on the Don River

2010-02-19T12:16:00.003-05:00

Just north of Pottery Road, the Don River takes a wide bending turn around an old snow dump site. The site is cutoff from the rest of the valley by a CN rail line. If you happen to venture underneath the CN bridge you will come across this interesting site. On the south side of the river a bare rock face is visible at the bottom of a steep hill. Ground water emerging from between layers of shale has frozen into a cascade of ice that drops down to the edge of the river. The effect is quite stunning and makes for a beautiful addition to the rather drab appearance of the rest of the valley in winter.

Ice covered rock wall on banks of the Don River

Large icicles formed by water coming from between layers of shale

Another view of the icy splendour

First Sign of Spring

2010-02-15T21:14:00.003-05:00

Two Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) sprouts poking their way through the snow

I visited Todmorden Mills today and noticed that Skunk Cabbage was starting to push through the thin layer of snow. This is one of the harbingers of spring!

Things in the Don

2010-02-06T19:18:00.004-05:00

Along the same lines as Places in the Don... here's a puzzle. Where are these and what might they be?

Other Bridges Over the Lower Don

2010-01-25T07:00:00.002-05:00

In addition to pedestrian, rail, and road bridges, there are a few miscellaneous structures that are no longer used or are just not used for people. These three structures are all located south of Queen.

This is an unusual bridge among the Lower Don bridges. It is not used for any vehicle or pedestrian traffic. It is a non-descript steel box about 3m high and 5m wide. It crosses the river just south of the Lakeshore railway bridge. According to my sources, it is used to carry critical hydro lines across the river.

Old Eastern Avenue bridge. According to Wikipedia this bridge was built in 1933 to replace an earlier one that was damaged by a spring ice jam. In 1964 the bridge was closed when the Don Valley Parkway was built. Nowadays it is only used by some street people who hang out underneath the deck. If you look closely you'll notice a brown circle mounted on the south side of the bridge. This is a leftover from an art project mounted in 2008. The artists removed most of their work but left this remnant which is sure to puzzle passersby long after I'm gone.

This bridge is owned by Enbridge (formerly Consumers Gas) and contains a 30" (0.76m) gas main. A recent Environmental Assessment recommended that the sides of the bridge be opened up to increase flow through space in the event of a Hurricane Hazel style flood.

Two dates for next week

2010-01-20T22:57:00.003-05:00

These days I usually just tweet about these things but because they are both relatively important (Don Valley-wise) I though I'd better blog about them too.

The first is the deadline to submit an application to join the Don Watershed Regeneration Council. The Don Council is made up of members that come from all parts of the Don watershed. It is a body of the Toronto Region Conservation Authority. For the next three years the council will be focused on helping to implement the brand new Don Watershed Plan. Applications are being accepted up until Monday January 25. For more information please see this website page.

The second thing is on Wednesday, January 27. This is another public meeting concerning the restoration of the mouth of the Don River. This meeting will provide updates on current progress on the environmental assessment and will give members of the public a chance to ask questions and provide input. The meeting will take place at the Toronto Fire Academy at 895 Eastern Avenue. Open house starts at 6 PM, presentation and discussion starts at 6:30 PM.

Road Bridges of the Lower Don

2010-01-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

This is the third of a series on bridges that cross the Don River south of the forks. Previously I blogged about pedestrian and railway bridges. Road bridges comprise the majority of bridges. Of the 26 bridges that cross the lower Don River, 13 are used by road traffic. Here they are from south to north. Note that I haven't included the Cherry Street lift bridge at the west end of the Keating Channel since I consider this part of the harbour and is not really on the river.

The first bridge is a dual bridge. On top is the Gardiner Expressway and below is Lakeshore Blvd. East. It probably dates from the 1960s when the Gardiner was built.

This picture contains bridges 2 and 3. The one in the foreground is the offramp to the Don Valley Parkway. The bridge in the background is the onramp.

This bridge connects Eastern Avenue to both Front Street East and Richmond Street.

This is the ramp from the Don Valley Parkway that connects to Front Street East and Richmond Street.

Queen Street East Bridge. The bridge was built in 1911 and replaced several earlier bridges all of which were damaged by Don River flooding. During the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion, rebels tried to burn the bridge but were unsuccessful.

Dundas Street East. There is a sign on the bridge that says "1910 2007". Presumably that indicates when it was built. I do remember a lot of reconstruction work a couple of years ago so I guess that's what the 2007 refers to.

Gerrard Street East. There is no plaque on this bridge (at least none that I could see). However it looks very similar to the Dundas Street bridge so it may date from the 1910s.

Bloor Street Viaduct. Officially the Prince Edward Viaduct but nobody local calls it that. Opened in 1918, the far-sighted designer included an underdeck for a future subway that wouldn't be built until 1960. The bridge construction was portrayed in fiction by well known author Michael Ondaatje in his book, In the Skin of the Lion.

A connector bridge that runs between the DVP and the Bayview Extension. Underneath this bridge is an unused cloverleaf exit. Two slowly decaying offramps are closed off and lead nowhere. Their existence is a legacy of a colossal plan to lace all of Toronto with a network of expressways. This bridge was supposed to be the start of the Crosstown Expressway which would have cut straight through Rosedale and the Annex and link up with the Black Creek Expressway. None of these came to fruition but the Don Valley is stuck with the leftovers of this folly.

Pottery Road eastbound. The Pottery Road bridge is actually two separate one lane bridges. The westbound bridge is the later construction and the east bound (the one with the arch) is earlier. A plaque on this bridge indicates it was built in 1928.

Pottery Road westbound. This bridge, the more modern of the two was constructed in 1977.

Leaside bridge. Actually it is Millwood Road that goes over the bridge. It splits into Donlands and Pape at the south end. The bridge was built in 1927. While the underdeck looks like it might be converted to a subway line, according to Steve Munro this is not the case.

Railway Bridges of the Lower Don

2010-01-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

There are six railway bridges that cross the Don River south of the forks of the Don. There are four separate rail lines with two lines having two bridges each. Here they are from south to north.

This bridge is hard to see because it abuts right up against the Lakeshore Blvd East/Gardiner Expressway bridge. This bridge is owned by Toronto Terminals Railway. It connects the main Union Station rail yard to the west to a smaller one just east of the Don River. From the eastern yard there are two more spurs that serve a few customers in the portlands to the south. It is not used very often as most freight now comes and goes by truck. The one regular customer I know of is the Ashbridges Bay Sewage Treatment plant. They still receive some chemicals delivered in tank cars which need to cross this bridge.

This bridge has three separate rail lines and is the main Lakeshore line which connects Toronto to destinations to the east (a fourth track appears to be the tail end of the rail yard). In 2006-7, the span was lengthened to accommodate maximum flood levels that could impact the Don if a Hurricane Hazel style storm hits the watershed some time in the future. This necessitated the closure of the lower Don path for 9 months. While inconvenient it was worth it since the new path connection is much nicer than the old one.

This bridge is the first on the CP line that leads to an unused spur. It runs beside the Don Valley Parkway and up to the rail line behind the Millwood Road Loblaws site. It is the first of two bridges on this line south of the forks.

This is the second bridge on the CP spur and is the highest rail span on the lower Don. It is owned by CP rail and was once used as a commuter line connecting Toronto to Durham and Peterborough. It is currently unused and there has been some talk about converting it for pedestrian use. However, the Federal government has nixed this idea since Jim Flaherty, the MP for Peterborough has mooted about reviving GO service.

First of two bridges on the CN line. This is just north of Pottery Road. It was hard to get a good picture of this bridge because it is obscured by trees lining the riverbank. This bridge along with the other CN bridge and the first CP bridge are of the same construction. I don't know when they were built but they probably date from the 1920s.

Second CN bridge at Beechwood Drive. Note the tree trunk stuck on the bridge. This became lodged here due to a recent flood. On the far bank you can also see a ramp built underneath the railway bridge which is used by cyclists.

Pedestrian Bridges of the Lower Don

2010-01-09T10:42:00.005-05:00

I thought it would be an interesting photo study to look at all the bridges that cross the Don River. All told there are 26 bridges that cross over the river between the lake and the forks of Don where the East and West branches converge. Of those three have been specifically built for pedestrian use and one other has been converted.

This bridge connects the lower Don trail to the Martin Goodman Trail as it heads east along the Lakeshore to the Beaches. It was put in place about 5 years ago when they took down the Gardiner east of the Don. It is a simple one piece bridge span and may eventually be moved when the mouth of the Don is reconfigured some time in the future.

This bridge connects the east and west portions of Riverdale Park. The bridge was constructed in 1959. In the late 80s stairs down to the lower Don Trail were added.

Footbridge just north of Riverdale Park on the Lower Don Trail. Like the bridge down at Lakeshore it is of single span construction. It arcs about 3m above the river. Even so, some of the higher floods have covered the bridge leaving debris covering the floorboards. These floorboards are loosely bolted to the bridge and make a lot of racket when you cycle across.

This bridge is north of Pottery Road at the very end of Beechwood Drive. Up until the 1970s the west side of the river was a municipal dump and trucks used this bridge to access the dump site. The dump is now closed and the bridge has two large boulders placed at one end to prevent vehicles from using it. It is now only used by pedestrians and cyclists.

Merry Christmas from the Don

2009-12-25T12:01:00.004-05:00

Winter scene of the Don River

No this picture is not from this year. There has been no significant snowfall this year yet. This photo is from last February so technically it is from 2009. This fall has been relatively quiet in terms of developments and events in the Don. Several big projects are ongoing and expect to be finished on 2010. I hope to be there and report on them. Until then, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Update on Don Mills LRT

2009-12-13T10:47:00.002-05:00

Steve Munro, a local transit advocate, has recently commented on progress of Toronto's Light Rapid Transit plans. Among the mentioned updates is the Don Mills LRT plan. A few years ago this plan included an option that would run straight through the Don Valley but this idea appears to be less of a possibility (ie. dead in the water?) According to Munro, not much is happening with this plan which is currently unfunded. Current efforts are now concentrated on the Sheppard East LRT.

So for the near future, it looks like the valley will be spared any new infrastructure. Preliminary planning on the DMLRT is expected to be finished spring 2010 so we will see what the TTC staff have come up with.

P.S. A more detailed review of the Don Mills LRT is available here.

Construction at Todmorden Mills

2009-12-04T12:00:00.003-05:00

Road and parking lot construction at Todmorden Mills

There is quite a bit of activity at Todmorden Mills these days. Construction has started on a new road access to the rear parking lot. This has been deemed necessary because the old bridge that was used to get to the parking lot has been condemned. The bridge was built in 1931 and used to cross the Don River when it ran through this part of the valley. When the Don Valley Parkway was built this section of the Don River was cut off and the bridge no longer served a major purpose. It has gone down hill ever since and now stands cut off and disused.

The new access road is being built next to the DVP embankment. Steps have been taken to protect trees near the construction site but other sizable trees were taken down that were in the way. I suppose it will look a lot better when it is finished. It's too bad they couldn't do anything with the old bridge since it is a part of the Don Valley's heritage and many of those are disappearing.

Tree protection fencing erected around large tree.

What the sign on the fence says

Straw bales have been placed to trap runoff from the parking lot during construction

Temporary catchment pond for water running from the pond and ditches.

The old bridge. On its way out?

Beechwood in the Fall

2009-11-22T21:22:00.002-05:00

Beechwood Wetland. Marnie's Point is covered in brown headed goldenrod stalks.

I visited Beechwood Wetland a couple of days ago. It's mostly been put to bed for the winter but there are still a few signs of life. Here are a few pix.

A small tree which I think is a hawthorn is covered in red berries

A small moss still bright green on the muddy ground

A white fungus protrudes from the end of log

Celebrating a Dubious Anniversary

2009-11-16T07:00:00.005-05:00

Poster announcing funeral for the Don River

40 years ago today a group of students from the University of Toronto held a mock funeral for the Don River. Organized by the then nascent Pollution Probe, between 100-200 people gathered underneath the Bloor Street viaduct on the east bank of the river to lament the state of the river.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to mourn the passing of our late dear friend, the Don River",

intoned organizer Martin Daly. A woman dressed up as Lady Elizabeth Simcoe read exerpts from her diary which extolled the virtues of the Don as Toronto's main salmon stream. At the end of the service a wreath was tossed into the muddy waters of the river.

Photo from Toronto Star, November 18, 1969

The next day another 100 or so people gathered on the steps of Queen's Park and sang a requiem mass for the "dead Don River".

Oh, but the 1960s were great for colourful protests. So here we are 40 years later and I am trying to think of what has been accomplished to improve the state of the river. The bad news is that the river is still polluted and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future. In 2007, a provincial report listed the Don River as "Ontario's worst waterway". While the river's polluted state hasn't changed the nature of the pollution has. In 1969, eColi levels topped 61 million per 100 ml. These days those levels have been significantly reduced through a combination of sewage plant closures, a plan to capture sanitary sewer overflows, and a program to repair improper/illegal cross connections between sanitary and storm sewers.

In the late 19th century, the lower Don was heavily industrialized and effluent dumped into the river caused pollution in the Ashbridges Marsh which eventually resulted in the marsh being filled in to create the Portlands. Subsequent neglect of this area has resulted in most of it being turned into an indutrial wasteland of abandoned brownfields, but I digress. The industry is long gone and so has its pollution. Today's pollution is mainly due to runoff from roads, parking lots, and other hard surfaces. Whenever it rains the water quickly runs into the storm sewers and into the river. On its way the water picks up sand, grit, oil, salt, and whatever other urban residues are lying around. The river which often takes on a muddy hue after a rainstorm reflects this urban runoff. Annual dredging of the Keating Channel at the mouth of the river where all this runoff is deposited amounts to 35,000 m³ of material!

Solving this problem is no easy fix. The Don watershed is now over 80% urbanized and there's not much that can be done about that. The Don River flows through the world we live in. However the structure of our built environment can be modified. One such plan seeks to change how we design and build structures and also retrofit older buildings so that they have less of an impact on the watershed and the river. The TRCA has recently created the Don Watershed Plan which lays out planning and design methods that could lead to a better built city, one that has a lower impact on the environment. Implementing these methods requires changes in the way we think about development. While it may require more short term expenses, in the long term it will pay us back with a cleaner river.

On the face of it, this 40th anniversary isn't much to talk about. The river is still polluted but in the interim people who care about the Don have put in place a framework which could lead to an environment which will allow the river to flow a lot cleaner than it has for sometime. Who knows, maybe the Don will one day again be known as Toronto's best place to fish. I just hope I don't have to wait another 40 years to see it happen.

Why You Should Follow Me on Twitter

2009-11-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed that my posting frequency is down this fall. This is a combination of work, school, renovations, but also Twitter. When I started blogging I did it mostly to publish pictures and stories about the Don. But I also made fair number of posts that just gave links to events, news stories, and public reports.

I now do these types of posts through my Twitter account. I've noticed some people cross posting on both their blog and on Twitter but I have stopped doing that. While there is a sidebar on this blog that lists the twitter posts, you can also sign up directly on Twitter to get these without having to use the blog.

So whatever works for you, I hope the combination of blogging and tweeting keeps you up to date on the Don.

Ghost Bike Visits the Don

2009-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

A 'ghost bike' chained to the railing near the accident location

The hill where the accident occurred

Just south of Pottery Road on the Lower Don Trail, the path rises over a small hill and then descends down a fairly steep slope going underneath a disused railway bridge. It was here on October 20 that a man was killed in a head-on bicycle-bicycle crash.

You can get going pretty fast along this stretch and it can be difficult to pass someone at speed. This accident can be chalked up to carelessness. A memorial ghost bike has been chained to the railing to mark the spot of the accident.

Prince Charles Visits Brick Works

2009-11-07T10:40:00.004-05:00

Prince Charles visits the Don

This picture is actually from 1991 when Prince Charles attended one of the earliest Task Force to Bring Back the Don events in Riverdale Park. I include it here because I wasn't able to see him when I went to the Don Valley Brick Works yesterday where he was attending an event. It turned out to be an invitation only event and members of the public weren't allowed in. This little piece of information wasn't well communicated which may tarnish Evergreen's public opinion somewhat on a day when it was the host to what was in all respects a successful day.

A few royal watchers wait in vain for a glimpse of royal couple from the Belt Line Trail.

The closest I could get was viewing the entrance from the Belt Line trail. Even from there I only caught a brief glance of the motorcade as it sped into Evergreen Brick Works compound. This disappointed the dozen or so people who came by foot to see the Prince. According to the cop at the front entrance many people who came by car were also turned away.

Oh well. At least I got to see the park which I haven't visited much this summer. Here are a few pics.

Muskrat Pond in fall

Buttonbush Pond at the Brick Works

Public Meeting on Taylor Creek Park

2009-11-05T10:07:00.004-05:00

Councillor Janet Davis speaks to the audience

I attended a meeting on Taylor Creek Park which is the lower reach of Taylor-Massey Creek. City Councillor Janet Davis hosted the meeting to let members of the public know what is happening with the park. Other speakers included Adele Freeman from the TRCA, Janette Harvey from the Parks & Forestry Department, Tracy Manolalakis and Joanne di Caro from Toronto Water.

Some updates were provided on current projects such as the Coxwell sewer diversion and the ongoing testing of sewer outfalls but there was nothing new to report. About 60 people attended so there appeared to be a lot of interest on what was a miserable drizzly night.

One good aspect of the meeting was that instead of a Q&A following the presentations, Davis said that participants could ask questions from staff who had setup information tables around the room. This prevented anyone from holding the meeting hostage while they ranted about a personal issue.

While nothing new was presented it's good to give the impression that the city at least cares about these places. Kudos to the Councillor Davis for making this special effort.

Aerial maps of the valley provided a good place to make comments of suggestions.

Booths setup at one side of the room allowed people to ask questions or pickup pamphlets.

New Trail in East Don

2009-10-13T15:26:00.005-04:00

Trails in the East Don
Red = Existing trails
Green = Trail under construction
Yellow = Bridge locations

Since the summer the city has been busy creating a new trail in the East Don. The new trail will link a park known locally as Milne Hollow which is accessible from Lawrence Ave. East just east of the Don Valley Parkway and an unnamed park at the north end of the Wynford Park neighbourhood. So far they have completed clearing the trail (see green line). There is a plan to place a bridge at location #1 (see map) that will cross the river and create the link.

Sign detailing trail construction plans

What is not in the plan but makes sense to me is a similar link to Moccasin Trail Park. That trail would link to the southeast corner of the Don Mills neighbourhood which would be a easier access than through Milne Hollow which doesn't actually exit anywhere. So far there aren't any bridges crossing the river so you can't (legally) cross the river. I'll let you know when they do install a bridge which will make this trail much more usable.

The sign says that the eventual plan is to have the trail link up all the way south to the Forks of the Don although it may be a little tricky finding space south of Eglinton Ave. East since there is little wiggle room past the Flemingdon Park Golf Course. Here a few pix from the new trail.

Trail just south of Milne Hollow lined with limestone gravel

A little farther south the path lining changes to wood chips

The path as it goes under the CPR main line just north of Wynford Park

Found Objects III: Multi-coloured Feather

2009-10-11T11:40:00.003-04:00

Bird feather

One day in late August I picked up this feather in the Don Valley. I kept it because it has such an unusual colouration. However, I put it away and only recently remembered it.

The feather has a white tip, long black feathers on one side and short blue-black feathers on the other side. Its length from tip to tip is 9.5cm. I am no expert on bird physiology but my guess is that the short blue-black feathers are the ones that show up on the outside of the bird's body with the black feathers lining its skin.

I did some searching but couldn't find any good source on how to identify birds based on feathers. Anybody out there who knows what type of bird it belongs to?

Found Objects II: Crash the Diamond

2009-10-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Self-published novel: Crash the Diamond

One day this summer I was caught in a sudden downpour and sought shelter underneath a bridge. While waiting out the storm, I crawled onto a ledge to sit down and discovered a heap of books scattered on the ground. They were all copies of one book called Crash the Diamond: Free Democracy by Cheng Wan.

I picked one up and leafed through it. It appeared to be a self-published novel. It doesn't appear to have been edited as the language is quite atrocious. For example, the novel summary on the back cover reads:

The once newcomer, then new Canadian, Fox One had been stuggling (sic) for surviving while Kruel (CSIS agant) and Fantianlo (police) had been pressing him at the bottom of society.

I tried to read a page pages but gave up. The poorly written text makes it almost incomprehensible but it appears to be some sort of conspiracy suspense thriller. It's possible that it is a poor translation from Chinese but I couldn't make heads or tails of the story.

The publisher is listed as One Publisher in downtown Toronto. Their website lists a series of comic books and books on Chinese cuisine but this book is not to be found.

Books scattered about, free for the taking. But, alas, park staff has picked them all up and put them in the trash.

Found Object: Glass Bottle

2009-09-29T10:29:00.002-04:00

Glass bottle with the words "F.W. Fitch Co. Ltd. Canada" etched in the glass

Doing work in the Don Valley means that you invariably come across all sorts of garbage. Most of it is the of the mundane sort such as plastic bags and water bottles, beer cans, and other discarded junk. But occasionally you come across something unusual. One such thing was a glass bottle with the writing embossed on the glass "F.W. Fitch Co. Ltd. Canada". It is unusual to find a glass bottle that has been made with the logo part of the actual glass bottle. Most labelling is painted on which wears away over time.

I picked this bottle up and rather than toss it in the recycling I took it home and cleaned it up. It didn't take much research to find out what it contained. F.W. Fitch was a maker of shampoos and hair tonics. I was unable to find any history of the company other than they were in business in the 1960s.

So why was the bottle in the Don Valley? It's possible that it was discarded in one of the many informal garbage dumps that can be found in our ravines. Another possibility is that it had an alcohol content and somebody might have drank from the bottle. I suppose I'll never know. I'll just add it to the list of curiosities one comes across in life. In this case another small story about the Don.

Elevated Wetlands

2009-09-07T09:42:00.007-04:00

Elevated Wetlands

This summer I had the opportunity to work on the Elevated Wetlands. The company I have been working for this summer, Urban Forest Associates, has a maintenance contract with the city to service the equipment and take care of the pods.

Their position next to the Don Valley Parkway makes them very prominent. Of all the things in the Don they seem to evoke the most questions and comment. People wonder: what are those things? I have heard them described as giant teeth stuck in the ground, giant polar bears or strange grey elephants. In fact, the Elevated Wetlands are an art installation, created by an artist named Noel Harding. They were commissioned by the Canadian Plastics Industry Association and are made entirely from recycled plastics. In his words, "the Elevated Wetlands are a symbol of the interface between urban and wilderness forms". In one sense it is good that they get conversations going. It makes a good starting point when talking about other Don issues.

Schematic diagram of the Elevated Wetlands

Water is pumped from the Don River using solar power into the highest pod. It then flows through each pod, falls to the next one and then eventually drains out into a wetland at the base. There are three pods on each side of the Don Valley Parkway. Eventually the water flows back into the river. Whether it is much cleaner is hard to say since I don't believe it has ever been tested. However, two wetlands exist where none were before so that is definitely a bonus.

Water pours into base wetland. The wetland provides habitat for a variety of flora and fauna.

It turns out that the pumping equipment installed is quite finicky and breaks down regularly. Not only that but the some critical pieces are German made and parts have to be ordered from a company in Chicago. Another problem is that since the system is solar powered the water doesn't flow at night or during cloudy days. On the east side the solar panels are obscured by trees which don't get sun until about 10:30 AM.

One of the jobs to be done is weeding the pods. this requires clambering up a ladder to get into the pods. To get from one pod to the next you can climb up over the spout which can be a little precarious. This is additionally tricky because wasps like to nest in the crevices that line the walls of each pod.

I was under the impression that the pods were miniature wetlands, brimming with water and filled with aquatic plants. Upon climbing into the pods I was disappointed to find the surface is actually regular soil and the pods are not wetlands but miniature forests. They are really just glorified flower pots. From the ground the water looks like it is falling freely into each other from one to the other but in fact it falls into hidden buckets that route the water underground to the next one. There are drip lines that water the plants so that they are not totally isolated from the water system.

Spout above aimed at bucket below

Water pours from spout into a receiving bucket

The wetlands at the base are small but functioning. While we were weeding I noticed green frogs amongst the reeds. Cattails and and the invasive phragmites grass dominate the edge but there are also swamp milkweed, water plantain, and water lily.

Fellow worker, Laura, cleaning the solar panels in the upper pod

Hiking Series Finished

2009-08-28T08:13:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday I led the last of my afternoon hikes. The format of these hikes was 3-4 hours along a distance of 10-12 km. Each hike started at 1 PM on a Sunday. All the hikes took place in the Don Valley or its tributary ravines. I had between 12 and 55 hikers for each hike. I think it was a successful format and I hope to do it again next year although I may rejig some of the routes.

The last hike was another successful outing with about 45 hikers. We hiked from Lawrence and Bayview (the Glendon College campus) to Pottery Road and Broadview. Personally I liked this hike the best because the paths lead through some of the best areas of the Don Valley. Here's a few photos (courtesy of Ken Peters) from the hike.

Hiking through a gully

A rest stop in Crothers' Woods. Ed Freeman (right) was a regular participant on the hikes

Passing through a wet patch on a slope. Note the cattails growing on either side of the path

One duty of hikers is to 'post' at path intersections to let others know which is the right way to go.

A view of some of the hikers as they make their way down a steep switchback trail in E.T. Seton Park.

If you are interested in seeing all 107 photos from the hike, send me a note and I will forward you the link.

Candy Floss Flower

2009-08-04T07:00:00.001-04:00

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

I've seen this flower in a couple of places in the Don. This one I found growing at the Elevated Wetlands. A member of the milkweed family, it is usually found growing beside ponds, marshes or other wet areas.

I call it the candy floss flower because the scent reminds me of that sweet fragrance of candy floss which is one of the aromas from my childhood, a fond remembrance of our family's annual trek to the CNE in August. I was wondering about this particular scent and did some investigation. The active ingredient is linalool which is a naturally occurring chemical that is used in perfumes. One study found that inhaling linalool can reduce stress. That makes sense since it is a very pleasant aroma.

Not many studies have specifically studied this species but there are several references in studies of the milkweed family since this plant shares characteristics with similar plants in the genera such as Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Unless you are an asclepiadologist(!), such things as self-pollination success, pollen grain coherence, and sympatrically flowering systems won't interest you.

The one thing that most people will relate to is that the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) needs plants like this to survive. It feeds on the nectar, lays its eggs on the leaves, and the caterpillar feeds on the leaves. Since this species appears to be in decline it is important to leave this plant where you find it and take away only the memories of the fragrance.

Monarch Butterfly on a Swamp Milkweed at the Don Valley Brick Works (I wonder if it can smell the flower?)

Places in the Don

2009-08-01T07:00:00.002-04:00

Can you tell me where this is?

This is the start of a semi-regular series of posts. I will post a picture from somewhere in the Don Valley and let you guess where it is. This one should be fairly easy as it is from a distinctive structure.

Garbage Miners Leave Big Hole

2009-07-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

Treasure hunters leave big mess just south of Chester Springs Marsh

An alert from a fellow Don Watcher led me to investigate an area near Chester Springs Marsh, one of the Task Force's earliest restoration sites. When I arrived on site, I was surprised to find an area about 5x10m strewn with rubble and debris. In the centre of this mess is an impressive hole about 4m deep. At the bottom of the hole a shovel is visible. Although well off the path, the hole would be difficult to climb out of even for a tall guy like me.

It's a well known fact that this area is was a former dump from the days of the Don Valley before organized municipal garbage collection. Chester Springs Marsh has had treasure seekers digging before and signs have been posted warning that such activities are illegal. I suppose the diggers took advantage of the civic worker's strike and did their excavations when there were fewer eyes to keep watch over the site.

The site is a hazard and will be expensive to cleanup. I find it ironic that during a time when the Don is once again the repository for new dumps that somebody would take it upon themselves to remove some garbage.

4 metre deep hole is pretty impressive. Warning: don't get too close because the sides of the hole at the bottom are collapsing.

Discarded bottles and other detritus litter the area. I wonder if they found anything valuable?

The Power of Water

2009-07-28T21:08:00.002-04:00

Damaged bridge in Wilket Creek Park

The storm from this past weekend was strong enough to severely damage a pedestrian footbridge in Wilket Creek Park. Just south of Edwards Gardens, the storm water washed away the stone and gravel from around the footings of the bridge. The bridge is anchored by 4 steel pillars and that is all that is left standing. The power of the water flow is evident in how the armour stones placed along the stream banks were knocked around like pebbles.

All but the bridge footings have been washed away

2 tonne armour stone blocks tossed around like pebbles

A similar bridge just downstream shows where the armour stone is supposed to be

This type of storm damage now occurs about once a year. About a year ago, a similar storm caused similar damage to bridges in this ravine. Fortunately the bridge is well anchored so it's only a matter of reconnecting the bridge to the path to fix it up. However, problems like this are likely to reoccur until the underlying problem of too much stormwater runoff is resolved.

City Strike Means More Dumps in the Don

2009-07-23T08:30:00.002-04:00

Cars queue up to unload garbage bags in Wilket Creek Park

As the civic workers' strike grinds into its second month, the garbage at temporary dumps is starting to pile higher and deeper (doesn't take a PhD to figure that out ;).

Already a few temporary dumps have filled up and have closed which means more have opened up to replace them. One of these is at Leslie and Eglinton on the West Don in Wilket Creek Park. Unfortunately for the Don, the conditions imposed on the city by the Ministry of the Environment on where temporary dumps can be sited means that many parking lots in the valley are ripe for the taking. Coupled with the fact that these places are relatively far from residential areas and are partially hidden by the ravine depth and surrounding trees make the Don an ideal place to unload our waste.

The Wilket Creek site is the second dump setup in the Don but if the strike goes on much longer it won't be the last. Other places that I can think of where the city could setup dumps are:

Earl Bales Park
Serena Gundy Park ( adjacent to Wilket Creek)
Taylor Creek Park (at Dawes Road)
Warden Woods (off Pharmacy Ave)
Sunnybrook Park (two large parking lots)
Milne Hollow (Lawrence Ave East at the DVP)
G. Ross Lord Park

The Don Valley has had a long history of being a dumping ground for our waste. Before garbage pickup was taken over by Metro in the late 1960's, the Don was home to about 30 legal garbage dumps. They have all been closed but that garbage still remains. I won't get into the stuff that still ends up in the river today.

There have been a couple of high profile protests at neighbourhood parks but you are unlikely to see anything similar at park sites. Unless the trees decide to start walking and blocking roads, the Don (and other ravines) will be the unfortunate recipients of our garbage.

Wicking Water

2009-07-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

Just south of the Queen Street bridge some odd looking construction is occurring. There appears to be a forest of silver ribbons poking out of the ground. What are they doing? This technique is called wicking and it is used to remove moisture from the ground.

This area is the northwest corner of the future Don River Park and the western portion is being anchored by what is officially known as a "flood protection landform". This is a kind of levee or berm and is meant to protect the West Don Lands from serious flooding on the order of a Hurricane Hazel size storm. The construction of the berm requires that a large amount of earth be piled in one place. Before that can be done, the ground beneath it must be dried out and compacted. The easiest way to dry out the ground is to insert these silver coloured plastic strips into the ground. Using capillary action, the water in the soil travels to the surface where it evaporates into the air. Once the soil is dried out sufficiently then the new soil can be placed on top. Dry soil compacts easier and has less chance of shifting or moving later on, which is something you don't want to happen for a device that is meant to hold back large amounts of water.

Ribbon forest

Silver coloured wicking strips

The berm is expected to be completed sometime this fall. Once complete, construction of the park and the new neighbourhood to the west can commence.

Wetland Watching

2009-07-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

It was such a nice day on Sunday I decided to go on a bicycle trip in the ravines. An unintended consequence of the civic worker's strike is that the fields of grass are no longer mowed. As soon as I entered the ravine, I was pleasantly surprised by the fragrant fields of clover that now cover the grass. Maybe once the strike is over we can get Parks to mow less often. It will be cheaper and produce more flowers. The parks will smell better and the bees will be very happy!

One of the places I stopped at was the Goulding wetland. At the pond, the water level was lower but that was to be expected. The water source for this pond is solely from ground water so as it fluctuates, so does the pond. This is normal for a wetland of this type and many of the plant species that are found along the shoreline are adapted to these conditions.

Along with the plants I spotted a couple of mallard ducks as well as the usual coterie of butterflies, dragonflies, water striders and other assorted insects.

Goulding Wetland

Another view of the wetland

A pair of Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) forage for food along the pond edge.

I also visited my old stomping grounds at the Beechwood Wetland. I saw some frogs and turtles there which is a good sign of a healthy pond.

Beechwood wetland

A Green Frog (Rana clamitans) at the water's edge resting in a pile of what looks like raccoon crap. Scatologists: eat your heart out!

I noticed a turtle lurking just below this lily pad. This is the first turtle I've ever seen at Beechwood. I couldn't tell the species but I think it's a Painted Turtle (Chrymemus picta picta).

A single Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was growing at the water's edge.

Not far from the pond a cluster of Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) was growing. This plant shares the name with the purple flowering plant but is in fact in a different family. Also this one is native while Purple Loosestrife is a non-native exotic.

Hike in Taylor Creek Park

2009-07-12T07:00:00.001-04:00

On Sunday July 5, I led my 3rd of 6 hikes for the summer. It was a warm sunny day and 52 people showed up. The route I chose went from the Victoria Park Subway Station and went through Taylor Creek Park to the Don River. I then led the hike along a biking trail known as "The Flats". The hike ended at Pottery Road and Broadview. After the hike a number of hikers went for a beverage (or two) at Whistler's Bar and Grill.

My next hike is scheduled for Sunday July 19, 1 PM, starting at Overlea Blvd and Thorncliffe Park Drive (east). It will head down the Don ending up at the Distillery District.

Map of the hike. I prepared this map for a hiker who wanted to know where the best drop out points were. These are marked on the map.

Getting started in Taylor Creek Park

Walking by the garbage dump in Stan Wadlow Park

Making our way along a trail in the woods

Climbing over a trail obstacle

A forest setting

I led the hike by the Elevated Wetlands. We got to walk underneath a waterfall!

Garbage in the Don

2009-07-10T07:00:00.001-04:00

I've been active in the Don Valley for several years removing garbage from natural areas. Now it appears that the city is putting it right back. The Don is now the dubious host for a number of temporary city dumps, courtesy of the ongoing civic workers strike. The first one was setup next to Taylor-Massey Creek in the parking lot at the foot of Stan Wadlow Park.

The dump

The garbage pile

I have also heard that another site is opening soon in Wilket Creek Park near Leslie and Eglinton. In addition to the legal sites there are now a few examples of illegal dumping. If the civic workers strike lasts much longer I am sure we will see more of these.

Illegal dump near Pottery Road

Another dump next to Pottery Road

This looks more like homeless garbage but is still an illegal dump. Found next to Lower Don Trail just north of Bloor Street Bridge.

Laying Track

2009-07-08T21:58:00.003-04:00

I happened by the Queen St. bridge over the Don last Saturday and noticed some activity on the railway tracks that parallel the river. Workers had removed some track underneath the Eastern Ave/Front St. bridge and were replacing it. They were also replacing a switch (see track in foreground) but I couldn't stay for that part. I took these photos before going on my way home.

Construction scene

Closeup of same

Putting the new track in place

More track action.

Relocated Buildings

2009-07-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Previously I have blogged about two building in the Don that have recently been moved. Here are some photos of the final resting places.

St. Matthews lawn bowling club. Moved from Gerrard St. East to Broadview Ave.

The Don Station. Moved from Todmorden Mills to the up and coming railway museum at the John Street Roundhouse. The Toronto Railway Historical Association has an interesting blog about activities underway at the roundhouse.

Coxwell Sanitary Sewer Update

2009-06-28T09:17:00.003-04:00

Sewer grate c1959. Located near the mouth of Taylor-Massey Creek and demarcates the merging of 3 sewer mains into the Coxwell Sanitary Sewer. Warning: the odour from this access tunnel is very strong and shouldn't be approached by those with a weak stomach!

After a flurry of fairly high profile news items earlier this year, the story of the Coxwell sanitary sewer problems has fallen off the radar. This does not mean that work has slowed down. Far from it. Toronto Water has been very busy with a wide range of activities from setting up monitoring devices to developing contingency plans in the event of a failure of the sewer to plans that will lead to eventual repair of the sewer.

There are two foreseeable outcomes. The first is that the sewer fails in the near future which would have dire consequences for the Don River. The second (and much more likely) course of events is that Toronto Water successfully completes repairs on the sewer main and everything works out OK.

Let me start with the bad news scenario. Since the damage to the sewer was discovered, the city has taken steps to make plans in the event of a failure. No one knows when the damage to the sewer occurred or how extensive the damage is. Nor are they sure how long the sewer will last. It could fail today or it could last another 60 years. Given this situation city staff have to plan for the worst. In the event of a failure the plan is to divert the sewage into the Don River. The flow in the pipe is about 6 m³/s or about 4 times the normal flow of the Don River. The effluent would flow all the way down the river to the harbour. The plan calls for the effluent to be treated in the Keating Channel which would remove the worst of the flow but the remaining water would be highly polluted.

The effect of this would be catastrophic. All oxygen would be removed from the river and everything now living in the river would die. Water in the harbour would be highly anaerobic and E. coli levels would be through the ceiling. The combined sewer and river flow would be contained in the river channel but a rainstorm during this flow would likely cause the river to overflow the banks causing sewage laden waters to flood the lower Don Valley. No matter how you look at it, a collapse would be a major environmental disaster.

In the meantime work is underway to build a bypass around the damaged pipe. Two options are being evaluated, a temporary bypass and a permanent bypass. The temporary bypass would involve constructing one or more pipes above ground. The pipes would extend from the bottom of the valley near the mouth of Taylor-Massey Creek up to the corner of Coxwell and O'Connor. A shaft would be dug at that corner back down to the pipe. The sewer contents would be pumped up the side of the valley and back down the shaft to reenter the pipe downstream from the damaged section.

The permanent bypass solution would tunnel underground roughly parallel to the existing pipe and create a diversion around the damaged section. Either solution would allow engineers to enter the existing pipe to initiate repairs. The timeline for both options is 9-12 months and would cost about $30 million. The temporary would take a little less time but would be more damaging to the natural landscape of the valley. Also the temporary solution allows for only one oppotunity for repairs. Since the cost for both options is roughly similar and the timelines are not that far apart, city staff are leaning towards the permanent solution.

It is good to know that the city is taking the situation very seriously and I am confident that the plans in place are sufficient to produce a positive outcome. I rate the possibility of failure of the sewer to be very low. I am reasonably certain that by the end of this project we will again have a working sewer and the Don River will continue to flow without the added complication of input from the Coxwell sewer.

For anyone who wants additional information on this subject, you can view Toronto Water's slideshow presentation to the Public Works Committee from January 2009.

Sunday Hike in the Don

2009-06-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

This summer I am leading a series of hikes in the Don. This past Sunday was the second of six hikes. It started at York Mills and Bayview and traversed open sections of Wilket Creek, part of the West Don and all the open sections of Burke Brook. It was a nice day and 50 people showed up! Shepherding this many people is a challenge and things slowed down considerably along Burke Brook which had some very muddy sections including a mudslide. Getting around these areas was very time consuming. Nevertheless, everybody enjoyed themselves and I received several positive reviews.

My next hike will be on Sunday July 5, 1 PM starting at the entrance of Victoria Park subway station. You can check the Toronto Bruce Trail Club website for details. Look under urban hikes. Here a few pictures from the day's travels.

Starting the hike in a park at York Mills and Bayview.

Walking through Windfields Park.

Some ducks were also enjoying the fine weather.

We passed through the Toronto Botanical Gardens where many things were in bloom.

Getting down a muddy slope was a little tricky but we persevered.

Lending a helping hand across a plank bridge.

Making our way across a recent mudslide took some time.

We also went through Alexander Muir Gardens in the Blythwood Ravine.

Enjoying a relaxing pint at the end of the hike at the Safari Bar and Grill. About a dozen hikers persevered with me to the end.

How Will the City Strike Affect the Don?

2009-06-22T21:41:00.004-04:00

By now, most of you know that Toronto's municipal workers have gone on strike. I won't bore you with the details, suffice to say both sides have dug in their heels and it's anybody's guess as to how the impasse will be resolved.

How will this affect the Don? In the short term there is one impact that I know about. The city's stewardship program has been suspended. In the Don Valley there are about six sites where volunteer stewardship will be curtailed until after the strike, including the new Goulding Wetland where I lead a team. During the last strike in June 2002, I was leading a team at the Don Valley Brick Works. I recall that we still went out but we brought our own equipment since we didn't want to 'break the strike' by using city equipment. Times have changed since then. The program is bigger and more formalized so performing stewardship now is more problematic. While I am concerned about the sites the impact should be minimal in terms of the overall length of the current labour dispute.

Another area that may affect the Don is illegal dumping. Since there is no regular garbage pickup there is the potential for people to dump their garbage. Some isolated areas of the Don (and other city ravines) are prime locations for this activity. Hopefully the strike will not be long enough for this to be a big problem. If you do see any dumping in the Don I'd be interested in finding out about it so please leave me a comment or send me an email at donwatcher (at) gmail.com.

Goulding Wetland Official Opening

2009-06-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

Richard Ubbens, head of Toronto Forestry speaks to the gathering

Last Friday June 12 was the official opening of Goulding Wetland. Although construction finished last fall and plantings have been going on ever since, politicians and staff needed to have an official get together to pat each other on the back and congratulate themselves on a job well done. Local city councillor, Janet Davis was there. Janet is one of the Don's biggest supporters. She has been a long time supporter of Friends of the Don East and an outspoken advocate for Taylor-Massey Creek issues. There were also several staff members and a bevy of school kids who were there to do a planting after the ceremonies.

I wasn't there because I am now gainfully employed but James McArthur of FODE was and he took a couple of pictures which he has gracefully donated for this blog posting.

School kids work at a planting after the hoopla

I have already started a stewardship team at this site so I have a personal connection to the wetland. The team has been busy removing non-native invasives and I expect to be busy for the rest of the summer with maintenance and monitoring activities. If you are interested in joining the team you can contact the city coordinator at greentoronto@toronto.ca and let her know that you are interested in volunteering at the wetland.

A turtle appeared on a log for the opening - a good omen for the wetland

New interpretive sign at the wetland

Turtles on the Path

2009-06-18T10:43:00.006-04:00

Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) seen in Crothers' Woods

What should you do if you encounter a turtle on the trail (or the road)? Marnie at Beechwood Wetland and the Toronto Star have mentioned recent encounters with turtles. Mid June is a critical time for Ontario turtles because it is the one time of the year that turtles leave their aquatic homes to go and search for a place to lay their eggs. Chances are that if you see a turtle on the trail it is going to be female. It will either be burdened with eggs in search of a nesting site or on its way back to its home in the pond.

There are 8 species of turtles native to Ontario and six of them are listed as being threatened or endangered. The biggest threat to them occurs at egg laying time because they often cross roads while travelling on land. Because they are slow moving they are vulnerable to road traffic and often get hit. This is a tragedy because not only does the mother die but if she is carrying eggs her future offspring are lost too.

Turtles like to dig a nest in soft sand. However they often can't find this so they might try digging in gravel beside a road or a path. Depending on the species there might be 5-40 eggs in a clutch all about the size of a ping pong ball. Turtle eggs take about 60-80 days to hatch. Many eggs do not make it because they are a favourite food of foxes and raccoons. In places like Toronto with its large raccoon population, it is estimated that over 99% of clutches are predated.

Turtles, especially snapping turtles have a bad reputation as being aggressive. However this behaviour is evident only on land during the brief time they they travel during the egg laying season. Once back in their aquatic habitat, they are shy and docile and will often swim away when approached by a wading or swimming human.

So getting back to the question: what to do when you encounter a turtle on the trail? Please be respectful, keep your distance and wait for them to cross the path. If they are in danger of passing traffic, you might try be a good traffic cop and tell other trail users to slow down. Please don't pick them up as they might bite you. If the turtle is on a busy road, you could try to hurry them along but please keep your contact with them to a minimum. They are after all wild creatures and may see your help as a threat.

If you are interested in finding out more about Ontario's turtle species, the Toronto Zoo's Adopt-a-Pond program has a good website that provides a lot of information.

Travelling Through the Upper East Don

2009-06-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday I led a hike through parts of the upper east Don River. Since this isn't on my regular travel route I decided to take a look at the route prior to the hike. The trip up to the hike starting point at Don Mills Rd and McNicoll Ave. was eventful only with respect to the bus ride. I wanted to take my bicycle but I wasn't looking forward to the bike ride up to North York. So I decided to take the bus from Pape Station. Taking the bus with a bike is a little different than usual because I used the bike racks on the front of the bus for the first time. I was a little apprehensive but putting the bike on the bus was a snap and once in the rack it hardly moved at all.

But I digress. The trip along the path through the East Don Parklands was largely uneventful except for my discoveries at the new wetland. I will tell the rest of the trip through the photos I took along the way.

Sign at the trailhead. The sign tells the history of the area including a little bit about the early settlements of Oriole, Flynntown and German Mills.

German Mills Creek

Interpretive sign at the mouth of German Mills Creek. Some idiot placed the sign on the wrong side of the creek because it actually faces the East Don, not German Mills Creek. If you look closely, someone else has helpfully pencilled in a correction.

Mouth of German Mills Creek where it meets the East Don River. Note the muddier waters of the Don can be seen meeting the clearer waters of German Mills Creek.

A Black Cherry tree (Prunus serotina) in flower at Cummer Avenue

The Black Cherry flowers up close

A messy cluster in the tree denotes the lair of the Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria)

New wetland just south of Cummer. Created last fall, it has been the site of plantings and other restoration work this year. A good place to visit.

Tadpoles in the pond. As a boy I called them pollywogs. Zoopolis has also blogged about these critters.

As I was looking at the tadpoles, I flushed a Killdeer out of some tall grass. I stopped to investigate and found its nest containing four speckled eggs. I left quickly after taking the pictures to minimize my disturbance.

A new bridge was built this year to connect the Don River path with Newtonbrook Creek. A very useful connection.

An old pond near Newtonbrook Creek. Note the non-native Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) growing beside the pond.

The very native Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis) growing beside the path.

Moving Forward on Toronto's RAP

2009-06-14T10:55:00.003-04:00

Bob McDonald presents at the Gladstone Hotel

I attended a meeting on May 27 for the Toronto Remedial Action Plan (RAP). The focus of the meeting was to announce the publication of the 2007 Progress Report. This might seem a little late but given past experience with RAP this is pretty recent. The RAP process amasses quite a bit of data so compiling and analyzing it all takes some time.

Toronto's RAP is one of about 43 areas of concern around the shores of the Great Lakes. There are 26 in the US and 10 in Ontario and 5 shared. Remedial Action Plans first began in the mid 1980's. Since then only 2 sites have been delisted - Collingwood Harbour and Severn Sound. Toronto's RAP still has some ways to go.

The launch party was held at the Gladstone Hotel which was quite a swanky spot for such a mundane topic. Free hors d'oeuvres and DJ'd music were an interesting addition (unfortunately the beer was not free). Another surprise was that the meeting was emceed by CBC's environmental reporter Bob McDonald. There were presentations by a number of people from the TRCA, the city and Environment Canada all of whom have a stake in the RAP pie. Bob as emcee kept these presentations on track and not too long. Only one presenter, Michael D'Andrea went overtime.

After the presentation there was a chance to ask questions. One of the questions I asked was "When do you think Toronto will be delisted as an area of concern?" No one had a quick answer and the presenters seemed stymied. Eventually Adele Freeman from the TRCA picked up the microphone and said she hoped to see an end to the process in 15-20 years. I said I'd hold her to that and get back to her in 2024. She laughed and said she might not be around that long herself.

The 2007 progress report called Moving Forward is just that, a description of progress to date and current conditions. There are no big announcements or surprises but is more a collection of small but interesting items. The report is just one of a series of interim reports that have been produced that talk about ongoing initiatives.

One must place these reports in the current environmental context. Many of the problems that resulted in the RAP process being started are decades old and the quick fixes were all done in the first years of RAP. The remaining problems are all complex and require long-term and sustained efforts in order to resolve. For example, one of the biggest projects that RAP initiated was the Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan. This project has a 25 year lifespan which will spend $1 billion dollars. It only started in 2003 and has 18 more years to go.

How does all this affect the Don? The Don River watershed is just one part of the Toronto RAP which extends from Etobicoke Creek to the Rouge River. The problems that affect the Don are also evident to a greater or lesser extent in each of the five other watersheds in Toronto. One hopes that if regional problems are solved or at least controlled, they will improve the conditions of the Don.

So far the report is only available in paper. I haven't seen any online edition yet but if I do I will make the link available through the blog.

My New Job

2009-06-09T07:11:00.003-04:00

Since the start of May, I have been employed in a new job. It's more of a summer job since I am still have one more year of university but it is directly related to my interests in the natural environment. The job is with a private company called Urban Forest Associates (UFORA for short) and they specialize in urban forestry and natural habitat restoration. In some respects it is a landscaping company but they do it with an eye to restore forests and ravine properties that have been degraded by unsustainable uses and in some cases neglect. Many of the clients are private property owners who have properties at the edges of ravines and want their property to have a more natural look. This is done by removing non-native trees and other plants and replanting with native species. The company takes extra care to ensure that the actual plants are sourced from local seeds and that trees and shrubs purchased from nurseries are not some cultivar or hybrid that they sometimes try to sell as a wild native species.

The work is similar to what I have been doing for the past 10 years as a volunteer so I am very happy with the job, especially now that I am being paid to do it. However the volunteer work tends to last only 2-3 hours per day and now I am doing it 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week. It is physically demanding work and I am slowly adjusting to it. My previous jobs in the IT biz and my school work was quite sedentary and I am taking some time to adjust to it. This means that I am finding less time for blogging so this is the main reason why my posting to Don Watcher has declined recently.

Fear not loyal blog followers, I am still taking pictures and noting changes in the Don. It's just a matter of finding the time to write about it. I hope to get back to a a regular blogging routine soon.

St. Matthew's on the Move

2009-05-28T12:56:00.004-04:00

St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club

One of the fixtures on Gerrard Street East next to the Don River will soon be no more. The St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club is slated to be moved to a new location just around the corner on Broadview Avenue. The move is part of the expansion plans of Bridgepoint Health which was renamed from the old Riverdale Hospital. Bridgepoint wants to build an underground garage where the club building sits now so rather than just demolish it, they decided to move it.

Building has been placed on platform of girders in preparation for move.

The lawn bowling club is a rather non-descript cottage-like building yet it turns out to have a rather storied past. Built in 1906, it is an example of the early 20th century architecture found in the Riverdale neighbourhood. The club lasted for 100 years but with the decline in interest of lawn bowling as a sport the club closed its doors in 2007.

Previously, the place where the building resides was used as a "House of Refuge". In the 19th century it was established as a place for poor and indigent people to receive medical treatment. They paid for their treatment with work. In 1870, a smallpox epidemic hit Toronto and the House of Refuge became a hospital to care for the sick. Over the next 130 years the place transitioned into the old Riverdale Hospital.

Riverdale Hospital got caught up in a binge of hospital restructuring in the 1990s. The result was Bridgepoint Health but that's another story. The real story is what occurred in our past which was rediscovered due to the relocation project. Since the club building was designated as an historic site the move required an archaeological review. The review revealed not only the archival history of the House of Refuge but also physical evidence on site in the form of pottery shards, bits of glass and other discarded objects.

Route to be taken to relocate the building

The relocation itself which is scheduled to happen this weekend, will see the building moved north through an existing parking lot, over a retaining wall and through Riverdale Park to its final resting place next to the southern park entrance on Broadview Avenue. The move necessitated the removal of 11 trees, mostly non-native Austrian Pine and Norway Maple. Once the move is finished these trees will be replaced by higher quality native species such as Red Oak, Silver Maple, and Trembling Aspen.

View of Riverdale Park East, looking north along the relocation path.

I don't have any information on what's happening with the building after the move but it would be nice to have it restored and turned into a local museum which could then showcase some of the history of the Riverdale's past. You can find more information about the project on the city's website.

Informational sign about project including picture of what the new location will look like.

Turtle Encounter

2009-05-26T19:00:00.000-04:00

Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrymemus picta picta)

I am working outdoors this summer doing much the same work I have been doing for the past ten years at volunteer outings. This time I am getting paid for it. It's hard, physical work but I enjoy it because it is satisfying work. This week I was working in Taylor Creek Park finishing off a volunteer planting that was poorly attended due to a heavy rainstorm. The location is a popular place for dog walkers and cyclists so we had lots of company while we worked. One of the passersby surprised us because she was carrying a turtle. It was an Eastern Painted Turtle which she had affectionately named Franklin.

Her story was that she had owned it for about a month and had been in someone else's possession for about a year. It had been picked up from a road location unknown but presumably in the local region. She had decided that it was time to release it back into the wild and had come down to the park to find a place for it. She had tried to place it in the creek but she said that it didn't seem to like it much. It's good that she decided against leaving the turtle in the creek since it is such a polluted mess.

I advised her that the best place to let it go was one of the ponds on the Goulding Estate. There is now considerable habitat for creatures such as turtles. The new ponds may eventually become a place to dump Red-eared Sliders so the addition of a native breed can only be a good thing. The woman walked off with the turtle so I have no way of knowing whether she released it since she seemed quite attached to it. I will certainly keep an eye out for it since I am leading a Community Stewardship team at the Goulding ponds this summer.

Trilliums: Another Spring Wildflower

2009-05-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), in Moccasin Trail Park

I took this photo this past weekend. These specimens are slightly worse for wear, possibly having been browsed by deer. According to Wikipedia, which has quite a good article on this particular species, the seeds are spread by both deer and ants. Seed dispersal by ants is fairly common with other spring wildflowers such as Bloodroot but trilliums are also the favourite food of deer. Deer may eat the plants but spread the seeds after travelling through their gut and being excreted. Ant dispersal may be up to 10m away but deer dispersal could be up to 1 km away.

The trillium is Ontario's provincial flower and an oft-quoted myth is that it is illegal to pick them. While untrue it does in some small way protect them from exploitation. However it doesn't stop some people from digging them up for their gardens such as is shown by this fellow who I caught stealing some from the nearby forest.

Fortunately trilliums are not endangered and there are still many patches throughout the Don, not only in its white form but also red and red/white. As with any native plants, my advice is to take only photos and leave the wild plants to their wild home... in the Don.

Look closely. The bag in this guy's left hand contains a couple of trilliums, plus soil. This guy gets negative karma points.

Police Patrols in Crothers' Woods

2009-05-20T07:00:00.001-04:00

Toronto Police patrol in Crothers' Woods

I was going through Crothers' Woods on Sunday when I heard the sound of motorized vehicles. My first thought was dirt bikes but when I came around a corner I was surprised to find these two gentlemen on ATVs. I chatted with them briefly and they were nice enough to let me take their photo. While I fully support the police's interest in patrolling trails in the Don, I think it would be more appropriate for them to travel by bicycle. Hopefully they will listen to reason.

Another police patrol, this time on the Belt Line trail at the foot of Mud Creek, Sept. 2005.

More Deer

2009-05-18T22:57:00.002-04:00

If you want to see some great deer pictures, check out Beechwood Wetland Blog. I've seen them myself several times over the past couple of years, both living and dead but Marnie's encounter was up close and personal.

Before and After

2009-05-16T11:53:00.006-04:00

Lower Don Valley, 1931

Lower Don Valley, 2009

I love before and after pictures. They can graphically portray places that have undergone some changes. Usually these changes are minor such as before and after a tree planting but sometimes you can do this over a longer span of time, if the pictures are available. There is an interesting blog that I follow called Toronto Before that shows archival photos from Toronto's past and places them beside a current photo. This is not so easy to do with the Don Valley since there are not that many photos available. Of the collections available there aren't that many interesting photos.

However, I did come across a photo of the Don Valley taken in 1931. The photographer was standing at the edge of the valley just south of Pottery Road looking west across the valley towards the Don Valley Brick Works. You can clearly see three chimneys labelled "DON" "VALLEY", and "BRICK". The fourth one reading "WORKS" is not in the camera shot.

The CN rail line is visible curving under the CP bridge which is still standing. A small road travels from the Brick Works to Todmorden Mills crossing the river at a single lane bridge.

The landscape in the foreground is quite remarkable. The time of year is not available but I am guessing sometime early in the year maybe March or April. The picture may portray an early spring flood since the river has overflowed its banks in a couple of places. It's hard to tell from a black and white photo but the valley looks like a blighted landscape. Only a few scraggly trees struggle to survive interspersed with mud flats and barren fields.

Unsuccessful attempt to duplicate same viewpoint as 1931 photo

Given this intriguing photo I tried to duplicate it. I attempted to stand in the same place as the original photographer but the view is blocked by a stand of trees which are now the top edge of the Todmorden Mills forest preserve.

The best I could do was to stand on Pottery Road where I could get an unobstructed view across the valley. Today's valley is much different than the one that existed 78 years ago. In the interim, the Don Valley Parkway was constructed. In this section the river was straightened into its current channel. The meandering section that flowed south of Todmorden Mills was cutoff. This now exists as an artificially created oxbow pond. Bayview Avenue was extended after WWII replacing the dirt road. The bridge in the old photo is still standing but is now only used to access a parking lot behind Todmorden Mills.

The mudflats beside the river have been replaced by a forest. Some of the trees are so big that you might think that the forest is much older but the evidence shows that this is a more recent addition.

The bridge from the 1931 photo that crossed the Don River. Today the bridge is isolated from the river. It is in very poor shape and is scheduled to be torn down as part of a refurbishment of facilities at Todmorden Mills that will take place in the next year or two.

Marsh Marigold

2009-05-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), seen in Taylor Creek Park

Marsh Marigold is another early spring flowering plant. It is not classified as an ephemeral, since it is found in swampy ground rather than as forest understory. It likes damp conditions and can be found on the banks of small streams and in swampy ground. The flower has no petals. The showing yellow petals are actually sepals or modified leaves.

Marsh Marigold is quite a common plant and can be found everywhere in the northern hemisphere. However, there are many varieties. Until recently it was identified as separate species before studies showed that the plant is highly adaptable to local conditions.

According to Wetland Plants of Ontario, all parts of the plant contain toxic chemicals called helleborin and protoanemonin. These can cause mild skin irritation and in some severe cases heart palpitations. So it's OK to take photos but don't try to pick it.

Good Turnout for 1st Pedal the Don

2009-05-05T22:51:00.002-04:00

Bikers passing by in Sunnybrook park

I participated in the the first ever Pedal the Don event on Sunday May 3. While Paddle the Don which was happening at the same time is into its 16 year, this is the first time someone has organized a bicycle event for the same day. By all accounts it was a success with over 50 riders and two roller bladers participating. Here are a few shots from the event. More pictures are available on the event website.

First rest stop in Wilket Creek park

Another rest stop by Beechwood Wetland

First Native of Spring

2009-05-01T07:41:00.003-04:00

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Note the ubiquitous Garlic Mustard (Allaria petiolata) sprouting beside it to the lower right.

Not really true since the Skunk Cabbage have come and gone but it is one of the showiest native flowering plants to appear this spring. Bloodroot belongs to the spring ephemeral category of plants, which means they appear for a short time on the forest floor before the trees above leaf out and block the sunlight. I have found that Bloodroot has one of the shortest flowering cycles of all the ephemerals, here one week, gone the next.

Bloodroot has some interesting characteristics, not the least of which is its seed dispersal method. This is performed by the exotic sounding scientific term, myrmecochory. To the non-scientist this just means dispersed by ants. The seeds have a fleshy appendage which the ants eat after taking them into their ant warren. Later on the seeds germinate and up comes a new Bloodroot plant.

For the next couple of weeks you can get out and enjoy some of the other spring ephemerals such as Trillium, Trout Lily, Virginia Waterleaf, and Wild Geranium.

Stewardship 2009 Season Kickoff

2009-04-27T16:16:00.004-04:00

2009 Poster

The 2009 stewardship season is kicking off with an orientation meeting at Riverdale Farm tomorrow night, April 28, 2009 from 7-9 PM (enter by the gate on Winchester Street). The 2009 season is the most ambitious yet with 10 sites, 7 of them in the Don Watershed.

The program is entirely volunteer. Each team visits their site once a week to perform maintenance and monitoring activities. These include removal of invasive plants, planting and watering of native plants and trees, and monitoring of various biological indicators. Last year, monitoring included flower pollinators, benthic invertebrates and water quality. All training is provided through the program.

If you're interested in this program, you can find out more information by coming to the meeting tomorrow or you can call 416-392-5323 or send an email to greentoronto@toronto.ca.

Don Watershed Sign Launch

2009-04-22T16:50:00.006-04:00

Sample signs of the watershed. Left to Right: Tom Boudreault, City of Toronto; Phil Goodwin, Chair, DWRC; Adele Freeman, TRCA; Jack Heath, Deputy Mayor, City of Markham; Janet Davis, City of Toronto Councillor, Peter Heinz, DWRC; Amy Thurston, TRCA.

I attended a small gathering today on Victoria Park Avenue where there was an official unveiling of a Don Watershed sign. It was at the east end of Taylor Creek Park across the road from Dentonia Golf Course. This is one of eight signs on along the length of Taylor-Massey Creek where it goes underneath major roads.

About 65 signs have already been put up throughout Toronto and a further 50 are being put up in Markham, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill. Each sign will denote the name of the river or creek. The name of the city is in the lower left corner and the Don Watershed symbol in the upper right. It is hoped that the signs will help to educate the general public about the Don River and its tributaries.

Jack and Janet officially unveil the sign...

... and there it is.

Peter Heinz with his watershed sign map. Peter came up with the idea ten years ago and this launch is the culmination of his efforts. Well done Peter!

Close up of the map. Over 100 signs will be posted throughout the watershed.

Riverdale Roosters and Chickens

2009-04-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

This breed is called Light Sussex.

Earlier this spring I stopped by Riverdale Farm one quiet afternoon and stepped into a small barn containing a variety of roosters, chickens, and a couple of rabbits. As I was standing there, I was greeted by a chorus of rooster calls. I caught some of them on video. Listen carefully and you can hear three different voices.

Riverdale Farm is one of those little known secrets of downtown Toronto. Created on the former grounds of the first Toronto Zoo, it is an active farm that specializes in pioneer farm animal breeds Ontario. Favourite animals include Dusty the Donkey and Ginger the Pig. You can also see horses, cows, sheep, and goats.

It is well used by the Cabbagetown neighbourhood but is open to all visitors, and it's free! It is open from 9 AM - 5 PM every day. It is located east of Parliament Street and north of Gerrard Street at the end of Winchester Street.