Fire on the Don River

Yesterday I had an eventful trip on the Lower Don Trail. In addition to the pictures I took of the construction zone near Lakeshore Blvd. East (see previous post), I also witnessed the river on fire. Well, not quite a burning river such as the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland but a pile of woody debris piled against a CN rail bridge abutment caught fire. As I was cycling down the trail just north of Riverdale Park, I noticed a plume of smoke. I went for a closer look and took a few pictures as well as a couple of video clips.

While I was watching, two men (who were likely valley residents) came by. They said that earlier that day they saw a couple of other men who had waded out to the sand bar to drink beer all afternoon. One of them started a fire which got out of control. The resulting bonfire was too much for them so they high-tailed it out of there.


Location of fire

The resulting fire could be seen for quite some distance and the Toronto Fire department soon responded. They parked on Bayview Avenue. With the assistance of an aerial ladder which stretched over the CN rail lines, they were able to pump a stream of water that reached the fire and reduced it to a smoldering pile of wet ash. There was no real danger of it spreading since the log pile was in the middle of the river. Still it was an interesting sight and I caught it all on video.


Fireman on aerial ladder just before dousing fire

It was just over two years ago that I made my first Don Watcher post on another fire in the valley. Then it was just pictures. Now my camera does video as well.

Just before seeing the fire I also stopped beside the trail when I saw a deer just north of the viaduct. A female, it was munching on crab apples. I took a few pictures but none of them came out too well since it was moving around.


Who's that peeking out of the trees?

Lower Don Trail Almost Ready

Last night I went down the Lower Don Trail to see how the construction was progressing. Even though there is still a fence across the path just south of Queen St., part of the fence has been knocked aside allowing for egress to the south. As I cycled along this part of the path I noticed that it has temporarily been adopted by street people who are literally camping beneath the Eastern Ave. bridge. They may be in for a surprise when cyclists start breezing by en masse next week.

I continued south to the north end of the construction site. It had previously been cordoned off but the barrier has been removed. The site was deserted so I couldn't resist sneaking in for a quick peek at what was happening and snapped a few photos. The site has been graded prior to landscaping and the path itself hasn't been repaved. I expect that to happen in the next couple of days. The new at-grade underpass was visible as well as a widened river channel.

I noticed that Val Dodge has also blogged about the reopening on Torontoist. While the powers-that-be have agreed to allow traffic to resume along this section, there won't be an official opening ceremony until things look nice. Maybe VD and DW will get together for an unofficial opening ceremony!


Old path looking south towards railway bridge

New trail underpass on right, newly excavated river channel on left

Tunnel to Don River Park won't be opened for another year

New Volunteer Opportunity

If you are interested in getting involved in the larger issues that confront Southern Ontario, then you might be interested in this opportunity. A new provincial law called the Clean Water Act was enacted on July 3, 2007. One of the provisions of the act was to create a series of regions across the province. Each region is responsible for protection and monitoring of sources of water. In the Toronto area the new body is called the CTC Source Protection Region (this is an amalgam that includes watersheds from the Credit River east to Soper Creek in Clarington).

This new body is creating a new committee called the CTC Source Protection Committee. Members are being drawn from government bodies and Environmental NGOs but also from the general public.

If you are interested in applying please read the website PDF for details. Applications must be received by September 28, 2007.

Wetland Planting at the Brick Works

I attended a workshop at the Don Valley Brick Works on how to plant in a wetland or a pond. It was attended by about 25 people from the Community Stewardship Program. Paul Morris of Acorus Restoration gave a 30 minute presentation followed by a hands-on demonstration of planting techniques in the quarry ponds.


Paul Morris talks about the different kinds of wetland plants

The proper technique is to stick your trowel into the mud, push once away from you then pull towards you. Then you place the seedling into the hole behind the trowel. Remove the trowel and then give it a kick (unless it is underwater). The kick removes any air pockets under the surface which can cause growth problems.

For an emergent or underwater plant you can also take some clay and form it into a ball around the roots and drop the whole thing into the water. This will quickly take root where it is dropped.

I nominated myself as event photographer. I also shot some video of the action which I cobbled together in a short video which I have posted on YouTube.




Girls in hip waders - oh yeah!

Update on TRCA Erosion Control Project

Location of the Erosion Control Project

Last month I reported on a new Class Environmental Assessment being initiated by the TRCA. This is to control erosion of an embankment on the CN rail line adjacent to the East Don River in the Charles Sauriol Conservation Area. I contacted the project supervisor, Moranne Burnet-McDonnell and received more information. The displayed map shows the location of the project. I also received a copy of the Class EA document which I have made available here.

If anybody is interested in joining the Community Liaison Committee (CLC) for this project, you can contact:

Moranne Burnet-McDonnell
Supervisor, Project Planning
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
1 Eastville Avenue
Scarborough, ON M1M 2N5
Phone: (416) 392-9725
Fax : (416) 392-9726
Email: mburnet@trca.on.ca

Update on Crothers' Woods Bike Race

The Ontario Cycling Association has posted results of the July 1st race in Crothers' Woods. The winners of 10, 20, and 30 km races were respectively David Kurzawinski, Stéphane Marcotte, and Scott Lutscombe. Complete results are published on the OCA website.

The race promoter Ziggy Martuzalski has also been given permission to hold another event on September 2nd in the same location. If you missed the July event, now is your chance to sign up to race on the excellent trails in the Don Valley.