Discover the Don

TRCA will be hosting a Public Information Centre for the Broadview and Eastern Flood Protection Class Environmental Assessment Project.

Date: Wednesday December 5, 2018

Time: Open house (6-7 pm), presentation followed by Q&A (7-8 pm)

Location: Ralph Thornton Community Centre, Riverdale Auditorium, 765 Queen Street East

While registration is not required, it’s encouraged to give us an idea of numbers. Registration form is available online.

Project Background

TRCA, in cooperation with Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto, seeks to identify a flood protection solution that will eliminate the risk of flooding currently posed to an 8-hectare parcel of land just east of the Don River and south of Eastern Avenue. This intersection houses some of the city’s most ambitious infrastructure and development projects, including a future office and retail nexus, and key transportation initiatives.

This study will consider existing infrastructure and integrate concurrent planning and infrastructure works, building upon the outcomes of the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project, and the Port Lands and South of Eastern Transportation and Servicing Master Plan.

Cedarvale Bridge by Castle Frank Brook (also referred to as Brewery Creek), 1915. Photo credit: City of Toronto Archives.

During the 19th century, there were a few creeks in Toronto that were known as “Brewery Creek” due to the breweries that could be found along their waters. Two such creeks were Castle Frank Brook and Taddle Creek.

Castle Frank Brook

Castle Frank Brook, now a buried creek, once emerged from small tributaries that formed near Lawrence and Dufferin and flowed southeast before joining the Don River south of Prince Edward Viaduct. Although most of Castle Frank Brook is now contained by sewers, you can still see remnants of the dramatic stream valley and topographic influence it left on the city’s landscape, most notably Cedarvale Ravine, Nordheimer Ravine and Rosedale Valley.

Along its course, Castle Frank Brook passed under Yonge Street and ran alongside two breweries: Bloor Brewery and Yorkville Brewery.

Bloor Brewery was built in 1830 and run by Joseph Bloore, the namesake of Bloor Street. The brewery was located in the Rosedale Valley Ravine between Mount Pleasant Road and Sherbourne Street on the south side of Castle Frank Brook.

With no surrounding businesses or residents, Bloore was able to alter the creek to benefit the operations of his brewery. By constructing a dam just above the brewery, Bloore was able to create a sizeable mill pond from which water could be channeled into his brewery using a 200-foot sluice. The pond also served as a popular local swimming hole in the summer and skating rink in the winter. The setback to his location was that the creek wasn’t wide enough to support the downstream shipment of his beer, so kegs had to be transported by land onto wagons via the steep ravine slopes.

In 1843, Bloor Brewery was bought by John Rose and renamed the Castle Frank Brewery. The brewery eventually closed in 1864 and the building was demolished in 1875.

Bloor Brewery, 1865. Photo credit: Toronto Public LIbrary’s Digital Collection.

Yorkville Brewery was a five-storey brewery and three-storey malt house established in 1835 on the east side of Yonge just north of Davenport. In addition to being called Brewery Creek, Castle Frank Brook was also referred to as Severn Creek, after John Severn the owner of Yorkville Brewery.

Dissatisfied with the local water quality for brewing, Severn had water transported from Summerhill via wooden pipes that ran along Yonge Street to his brewery.

After setting up breweries in California and Iowa, Severn returned to Toronto in 1863 and ran Yorkville Brewery until he passed away in 1880. His son George inherited the company, which eventually closed a few years later for financial reasons.

While there’s no remaining trace of the brewery, Severn’s legacy can be seen on the Yorkville coat of arms, which features a beer barrel and the initial “S” to recognize Severn’s service to the Yorkville Council.

Yorkville Brewery. Photo credit: Toronto Public Library’s Digital Collection.

Heritage Toronto plaque at the site of Severn’s Yorkville Brewery on Church St. just east of Yonge. Photo credit: Toronto’s Historical Plaques.

Yorkville coat of arms. The beer barrel on the top left corner with the letter “S” is to commemorate John Severn’s contributions to the community. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Taddle Creek

Taddle Creek is another buried stream, which formed from a creek-fed pond at Wychwood Park and flowed southeast off Bathurst, cutting across University of Toronto before emptying into the bay near Parliament and Esplanade. Taddle Creek also went by the names Little Don River, Goodwin Creek, University Creek, Wolz Creek, and in the segment close to Enoch Turner’s Brewery, Brewery Creek. Today, very little of the creek remains, but evidence of its winding course can be seen when walking down Philosopher’s Walk on the University of Toronto’s campus.

Enoch Turner’s Brewery opened in 1831 along Taddle Creek at the southeast corner of Front and Parliament near the mouth of the creek. After being in operation for one year, the brewery was devastated by fire and Turner was left without the funds to rebuild.

Plan of Enoch Turner’s property (brewery on the bottom left), 1854. Photo credit: Toronto Public Library’s Digital Collection.

Through the charity of neighbouring businesses, including a benefit performance by the Toronto Circus, Turner was able to construct a new distillery and brewery on the old site. The distillery was erected in 1841 and the main building of the brewery was up by the mid-1840s. According to the Globe, the new building was an impressive structure, having “every convenience for brewing and distilling on a very extensive scale.” In 1854, Turner retired and sold the brewery. 

Enoch Turner is probably best known for the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse built in 1848, which was Toronto first free school. The school can still be found at its original location on Trinity St. between King St E. and Eastern Ave.

The Don River and its tributaries have a long history as a water source and transportation route, which is why so many early industries in Toronto were based close to its waters. These industries included mills, brickmaking factories, tanning factories and distilleries. This concentration of industries over time would eventually lead to the environmental degradation of the river. It was only after the reform of industrial practices and cleanup efforts by various groups over the course of several years that we’ve seen the landscape of the Don River slowly recover and regenerate.

Although the forecast called for some rainy conditions, the sky cleared up just in time for this year’s Mill Pond Splash eco festival, which took place on Sunday, June 4.

Mill Pond Splash is a family-friendly event held annually at Mill Pond Park in Richmond Hill. The outdoor celebration is an opportunity for attendees to learn about conservation practices, take part in environmentally-focused activities, and learn about the natural and cultural history of the Don River.

This year saw over 50 volunteers (including the 8 Globemaster Squadron Air Cadets from Richmond Hill), 34 local green vendors and exhibitors, 3 stage shows, 1 planting event by the Town of Richmond Hill, and close to 100 little runners for WWF-Canada’s Kids’ Run for Nature!

Participants of Kids’ Run for Nature, a fundraising event in support of WWF-Canada.

Performance by Envirodrum, who use only recyclable products as percussion instruments.

Ontario Streams tent.

The Scrappy Crafter button-making tent.

Nature demonstration by Speaking of Wildlife.

Parks Canada Learn to Camp tent.

TRCA Monitoring staff conducting an electrofishing demonstration.

Performance by the Toronto Métis Jiggers.

To stay informed about future TRCA events, visit TRCA’s online events calendar!

Don River flood north of the Bloor Viaduct, February 26, 1918. Photo credit: City of Toronto Archives (Fonds 1231, Item 34). 

In April, Toronto saw 47% more rainfall compared to the monthly average, according to Environment Canada's historical data. Even as we start to get warmer weather, water levels in Lake Ontario are still on the rise, bringing with it associated risk of flooding and waves caused from high winds. While it’s important to get out and enjoy the nicer weather in and around our natural spaces, it’s also important to exercise caution when there is higher, faster flowing water in watercourses. 

When water levels start to rise, TRCA has an important duty to monitor and maintain a number of flood control dams and channels across the Toronto region. As well, we provide local agencies and the public with notice, information and advice to help reduce the risk to life and damage to property caused by flooding. 

TRCA’s two large dams are the G. Ross Lord Dam in the Don River watershed and Claireville Dam in the Humber River watershed. These dams are maintained and operated by TRCA Flood Infrastructure staff on a 24-hour basis when required, based on weather patterns and watershed conditions. TRCA also maintains a number of small dams and flood control channels.

Flooding in Toronto

Flooding has been a concern in the Toronto area since it was first settled, with the first written account dating back to 1797. However, with an increase in the amount of surface runoff, the changing nature of our watersheds, and changing patterns related to climate change, flooding has become even more prevalent.

Due to the urban nature of the GTA, much of our rainfall becomes runoff, causing water levels in streams and rivers to rise quickly. Watersheds with these characteristics are called “flashy.” 

Most flooding occurs when the volume of water in a river or stream exceeds the capacity of the channel; however, flooding also takes place along lake and coastal shorelines, when higher than normal water levels inundate low-lying areas.

“High Water Mark,” an art installation on the East Don trail in Charles Sauriol Conservation Reserve. The elevation of each stone represents a significant flood event that occurred during the year engraved on the stone. The first stone represents the great flood of 1886, a few months before the mouth of the Don River was straightened.

Stream erosion along Wilket Creek, tributary of the West Don River. The creek is part of a long-term rehabilitation project by TRCA to protect public infrastructure and mitigate erosion and flooding while enhancing Wilket Creek’s ecosystem.

Flood Messages 

A TRCA Flood Duty Officer and Chief Flood Duty Officer are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They have an important duty to monitor the watershed and weather conditions using a number of sources, including TRCA’s real-time gauging network, which provides precipitation amounts and water level readings across the jurisdiction. They also use forecasting tools to predict, as accurately as possible, the expected water level in rivers throughout TRCA’s jurisdiction.

If there is potential for flooding or high water levels and associated safety concerns, TRCA issues flood messages.

Staying Safe Around Waterways

Even as we enter the summer months, there are still dangers related to flooding from summer storms. If a statement has been issued, keep away from the edge of all waterways and adhere to these safety precautions:

Stay away from rivers and streams, and remember that soft banks along the rivers can be slippery.

Avoid walking on flooded areas or roads.

Avoid driving through flooded roads or underpasses, since the water may be deeper than it looks. If you are caught in fast-rising waters and your car stalls, leave it and get yourself and any passengers to higher ground.

Do not swim outdoors during a rainfall event.

Avoid crossing bridges if the water is high and flowing quickly.

Do not attempt to rescue friends or pets from the river if they fall in. Call 911 for help immediately.

Listen for updates on affected areas, safe access roads, and where to go and what to do if the local emergency team asks you to leave your home.

Keep an emergency kit close at hand in a portable container such as a duffel bag, backpack or suitcase with wheels.

Be prepared for disruptions to essential services and transportation.

From century to century, the Don River has provided an important transportation route for canoeing, from its role as a passageway for Indigenous Peoples to a corridor for settlers to travel and transport goods.

As we get ready to celebrate the annual Manulife Paddle the Don, it’s important to remember the much longer history of people taking to the Don River in canoes for the sake of exploration, commerce, recreation and to build Toronto into the city it resembles today.

Indigenous Tradition of Paddling the Don

Prior to European settlement, there existed an extensive Aboriginal trade network along established canoe routes. Settlers found that their heavy boats weren’t suitable for navigating these waterways and portaging, making the canoe their only option.

The Don Valley during this time was covered with mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, providing habitat for wolves, deer, wolverine, lynx and bear. It was also the route for flights of migratory birds and nesting grounds for waterfowl in the marshes at the mouth of the river. As Toronto began to take shape years later, these marshes were seen as a breeding ground for mosquitos, bringing with them fear of fever and malaria, and eventually these marshes were filled.

Although the Indigenous Peoples who inhabited the area left few remains of their passage in the Don River, it’s believed that the Don Valley was used sporadically by the Seneca and Iroquoian groups as well as the Algonquian Mississauga to seasonally hunt and fish. The river was essential to the Mississaugas as it connected with trail systems that are followed by present day Yonge Street, the gateway north. Few settlements were located in the Don system—likely due to the scarp formation around the Toronto Islands that extends from the Humber to the Scarborough Bluffs, which tended to block passageway past the mouth of the Don River.

History of Settlers Paddling the Don

The first recorded person to have written about the Don River was the Jesuit priest Father Pierre Raffeix who mapped the Don in 1688. 

A hundred years later, the surveyor Alexander Aitkin created a map that included the Don with the note “navigable for a boat for two or three miles [north of the lakeshore].” Despite this limitation, the valley formed part of an ancient Aboriginal trail network linking Lake Ontario with Lake Simcoe and the upper Great Lakes and served as an alternative to the more frequently traveled Carrying Place trail along the Humber River.

Toronto Harbour looking west from the mouth of Don River, 1793. (Photo credit: Toronto Reference Library Digital Archive).

Looking west from the mouth of Don River, 1793. (Photo credit: Toronto Reference Library Digital Archive).

While there are long gaps in the history of exploring the Don, the existing records paint a picture of the early sights and impressions on the valley during those years. 

In the late 1700s and into the 1800s, ice fishing, boats with music and canoeing were some of the pastimes on the Don. Elizabeth Simcoe, one of the early European settlers described some of her early paddling voyages exploring the Don River and understanding the geography of the land.

“This evening we went to see a creek which is to be called the River Don . . . After we entered we rowed some distance among low lands covered with rushes, abounding with wild ducks and swamp black birds with red wings. About a mile beyond the Bay, the banks become high and wooded, as the river contracts its width.”

Elizabeth Simcoe’s diary, 11 August 1793

Canoeing at Toronto Island, 1891. (Photo credit: Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 6043).

Canoe race in Toronto Bay, 1910. (Photo credit: Toronto Reference Library Digital Archive).

Paddling the Don Today

On the first Sunday of May, we celebrate Manulife Paddle the Don—a unique tradition in which hundreds of Torontonians come together to paddle a 10.5-kilometre stretch of the Don River from Leslie and Eglinton to the Toronto Harbourfront. Paddle the Don is also an important fundraising event to help restore the river and its surrounding watershed to the healthy ecosystem it was before intense urbanization nearly decimated it.

Outside of Paddle the Don, people are allowed to paddle any of Toronto’s rivers at any time without a permit required. However, paddlers should note that the water levels are usually too low in the Don River for anyone to paddle large sections. After a storm event, when water levels rise, water moves very quickly and can be very challenging, especially around existing weirs.

When we look at the history of our city, early trade and commerce would have been impossible without the canoe. Today there is equal value in the canoe and revisiting these early water passageways in how it lets us get away, lets us rejuvenate and challenge ourselves, and helps us find or rekindle our connection with the natural history of the land.

Manulife Paddle the Don, 2010.

Manulife Paddle the Don, 2013.

Manulife Paddle the Don, 2015.

Manulife Paddle the Don, 2016.

Perhaps the question we receive most frequently on the blog is “Where does the Don River start?”

Since we know that the Don River flows south toward the lake, the answer must lie north of the city. This is where you’ll find Oak Ridges Moraine, a long ridge of sand, silt and gravel deposits that forms a 200-kilometre band of green space from Orangeville and the Niagara Escarpment in the west, to Trenton and the Trent River in the east.

From its headwaters in the moraine, the Don River travels 38 kilometres south where it empties into the Toronto harbour. Not only does the Oak Ridges Moraine feed the Don River, but six other watersheds in the Toronto area originate along the southern margin of the Oak Ridges Moraine and follow a similar southeasterly course to Lake Ontario.

The rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

How does the Oak Ridges Moraine work?

The Oak Ridges Moraine acts as Ontario’s rain barrel, recharging aquifers and discharging water into our waterways. Whereas on most soils, rain and snowmelt run off into streams, rivers and ponds, the Oak Ridges Moraine is able to absorb a great deal of water due to its composition of permeable sand and gravel. This allows water to seep down into the moraine’s sandy core, hundreds of metres deep where the water is purified and filtered through sand and gravel aquifers.

As the aquifers are regenerated, tiny headwater streams bubble up out of the ground along the ridge, sending clean, cool water out through seeps, swales and springs. The water is then discharged into the headwaters of over 65 watercourses flowing north and south of the moraine.

The ridgeline that runs along the centre of the Oak Ridges Moraine marks the divide between the waters that flow north and south. Headwater streams flowing south drain into Lake Ontario, while waters flowing north feed into Lakes Scugog, Simcoe or Georgian Bay (Lake Huron).

Photo credit: GEOSCAPES, Natural Resources Canada.

Since the ridgeline represents the headwaters for several watersheds, it also marks the boundary for different Conservation Authorities (nine in total), which are all demarcated according to watershed boundaries. Within the boundaries of each of the nine Conservation Authorities (shown on the map below), all water flows or drains toward one river or toward a group of rivers.

So why is the Oak Ridges Moraine important?

The Oak Ridges Moraine is the largest concentration of headwater streams in the Greater Toronto Area and is an essential water recharge and discharge source in Ontario. It sustains the health of several watersheds and directly provides drinking water to over 250,000 people. 

The moraine also sustains countless green spaces and diverse habitats that are essential for regionally and provincially rare plant and animal species. It’s home to upland forests, significant wetlands and is one of six recognized areas for forest bird diversity in Southern Ontario.

Interested in exploring the Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve Trail? Check out TRCA’s online trail map, and remember that the groundwater under your feet is part of a remarkable ecological system that provides essential drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in Ontario.

As we get ready for the holiday season, you’ll notice that plants figure into many of our holiday traditions. Here’s a list of some of the holiday-themed plants that are native species to Ontario and that you can find right here in the Don Valley! 

Christmas fern

Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). Photo credit: Derek Ramsey via Wikimedia Commons.

The Christmas fern, which stays vibrant throughout the holiday season, was a common Christmas decoration by early European settlers, which is how this plant got its holiday-themed name. The upward pointing lobe of the pinnae were also thought to resemble Christmas stockings.

This fern also serves a useful conservation and erosion control function, especially on steep slopes. When the first hard frost hits, the fronds recline flat against the ground, holding in place forest litter and forming a dense covering to promote the building of organic material and stabilization of the underlying soil!

Ground dwelling animals and birds in Ontario also use it for protective cover throughout the year, which is especially useful during the harsh winter months. Christmas fern can also be used by some butterfly species to host their larvae.

Red/green ash tree

Red/green ash tree (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). Photo credit: Keith Kanoti via Wikimedia Commons.

This festive-sounding tree is actually two different but near identical species of trees, with the main difference being that the green ash is almost hairless on its leaves, twigs and leaf stalks. Despite these slight differences, the two intergrade completely and the distinction is no longer upheld by most botanists.

The red/green ash is known for its tolerance of harsh urban environmental conditions, ease of propagation and, in eastern North America, its value to wildlife as a native keystone species. The seeds of the red/green ash tree provide a vital food source in the colder months for several types of Ontario wildlife, including quail, wild turkeys, cardinals and finches, as well as squirrels and other rodents.

The red/green ash tree, along with all other species of ash trees in North America, is threatened by the emerald ash borer, a beetle introduced accidentally from Asia to which it has no natural resistance. The invasive insect was first detected in Windsor in 2002 and poses a serious threat to our natural systems and urban forests.  

Mountain holly 

Mountain holly (Ilex mucronata). Photo credit: Rob Routledge via Wikimedia Commons.

Holly, which maintains its bright colours during the holiday season, has long been associated with Christmas. This goes back to pagan times when it was customary to bring holly indoors as a charm to ward off bad spirits and ill-fortune. 

You can find mountain holly living in wet habitats, like along the shores of rivers and lakes around northeastern and southern Ontario. Mountain holly was once thought to be its own genus, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “false holly,” but recent tests show that it’s actually closer to true hollies than originally thought, making it part of the Ilex species. 

Balsam fir

Balsam fir (Abies balsamea). Photo credit: US Fish & Wildlife Services via Wikimedia Commons.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable trees in Ontario, the balsam fir is a popular choice for a Christmas tree because of its fragrant scent and the fact its needles stay on long after the tree has been cut down. Balsam firs can be identified by their tall, narrow shape, which tapers to a skinny point at the top.

Balsam firs don’t have very deep roots, and in extreme winds these trees have been known to blow down. If you spot a balsam fir with dried out and dead branches towards the bottom, it’s a sign that the tree grew near a group of other trees, whereas a balsam fir that’s green all the way down means it grew with enough space to get adequate sunlight!

From all of us at the Don River and Highland Creek team at the TRCA, have a safe and happy holiday season!

Davenport Road 1914. Photo credit: City of Toronto Archives, (Fonds 1231, Item 262).

Did you know that Davenport is one of Toronto’s oldest roads? It follows the longest First Nations trail in Ontario known as Gete-Onigaming, or "the old portage,” which stretched between the Humber and Don rivers running along the southern shoreline of glacial Lake Iroquois. 

In 2015, a handful of participants began an annual tradition to trace part of this historical trail in an event known as the Davenportage.

The route of the 2016 Davenportage.

The Davenportage, which just completed its third run in November, is a 16.5-kilometre paddle and portage event running from the banks of the Humber River, crossing along to Davenport Road and continuing to the Don River. The event is divided into three legs (the first two being optional):

Leg 1: A 15-20 km run from a First Nations historic site, through the ravines to the Don River.

Leg 2: A 20 km paddle down the Don River, across the waterfront and up the Humber River. This year, this leg started at the mouth of the Don due to low water levels.

Leg 3: A 17 km portage along the Davenport Trail back to the Don River.

Although the Davenportage route deviates slightly from the original route due to modern development, the event is dedicated to paying respect to the historic significance of the journey. This year’s event was kicked off with the help of Glen Sault, a First Nations elder and story teller, who conducted the opening ceremonies and smudge. 

There’s also a pit stop along the event route at the Tollkeeper’s Cottage at Davenport and Bathurst, which dates back to the mid-1800s after Davenport became a paved road. Between the Humber and Don Rivers, Davenport had five tollgates, the third of which included the Tollkeeper’s Cottage—home to the tollgate keeper and his family.

“Everyone was well fed by the hospitable volunteers dressed in period costume at the Tollkeeper's Cottage on Davenport Road, who hosted our main rest stop and where we were served a traditional voyageur meal of warm Canadian pea soup with bread and butter.”

Paul Grennell, Davenportage organizer

Some of the challenges that organizers face is the unpredictability of the Don water levels, making parts of the river unnavigable. “Last year we made it down from the Brickworks, but it was barely navigable, with the lower canalized section being the shallowest,” explains event co-founder Michael Bumby. “In addition, the log booms where the Don enters the Keating Channel and the debris that builds up at the base of the bridges present significant challenges.” 

In addition to water levels, there are other challenges participants face navigating these waters. According to Bumby, these include “high winds blowing from the west down the Keating Channel and related waves bouncing off the sea wall, the airport ferry and the turbulent water conditions in the western gap, and the short but unpredictable ‘washing machine’ that exists between the western exit of the western gap and the nearby access to the breakwater.”

There’s no doubt that the event is a challenge, requiring participants with experience, endurance and the good nature to deal with whatever obstacles arise on the day of the event. In exchange, portagers gain a better connection to the history of the area and to those who came before us who had to endure the unpredictabilities of nature.

For more information on the event and what’s in store for 2017, check out the Davenportage website!

Good question. Outside of the Paddle the Don event, you are allowed to paddle any of Toronto's rivers at any time and there is no permit required to do so.

Having said that, the water levels are usually too low in the Don for anyone to paddle large sections. When water levels rise after a storm event, the water moves very quickly and can be very dangerous, especially around existing weirs. The Rouge River, Duffins Creek and Humber River are much easier to paddle from the Lake Ontario up. There are also paddling tour companies that can take you on guided tours of different waterways if you’d prefer to paddle with others.

Happy paddling!

Glad to hear you’re interested in the G Ross Lord Dam! You can find general information (including its holding capacity, etc) in a previous Discover the Don blog post. There was also a great article in the Metro a few months ago profiling the dam. 

For more detailed info, try visiting TRCA’s Flood Monitoring and Real Time Gauging site. You’ll be able to find water level reports (left-hand margin) as well as real time gauging for the G Ross Lord Dam as well as other monitoring locations.

Toronto’s extensive ravine system is often considered to be our most distinctive geographic feature. While we may not think about ravines as being a part of our day-to-day lives, they’re a big part of how we get around, how we unwind and how we connect with nature. 

Yet Toronto’s ravines tend to be largely unexplored green spaces. From industrial dumping grounds to an escape from the urban landscape, the term ravine has held many different associations over the years. As we start to rethink the way we use ravines, let’s look at some of the past uses and misconceptions towards these hidden natural spaces:

Ravines as “Disposable”

A recent article in the Toronto Star described a time in 1920s when our ravine system was considered so “utterly disposable” that people would wash their cars in the Humber River. In fact, the health of Toronto’s waterways suffered for a long time because they were seen as dumping grounds for residents and industries. 

Historically, ravines in Toronto were routinely filled in for development and industrial use, hindering the river’s natural ability to control flooding. With these industries now gone, the task now becomes improving the water quality of these waterways and restoring them to a more natural condition.

When ravines were considered disposable, residents would wash their cars in the Humber River (Source: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 1237).

Ravines as “Unsafe”

While ravines offer a sense of seclusion and quiet in the midst of the city, these same qualities have made some residents nervous about visiting their local ravines. For many who grew up near ravines, there have long been rumours of flash floods, crime, wild animals and numerous other hidden dangers that lurked in ravines.

In 1991, the Taskforce to Bring Back the Don published a report that described some of the fears and concerns residents raised during community consultations:

“The personal safety issue is an important consideration for many. Some said they would never venture into the valley alone, because they would feel unsafe and several said they wouldn’t let their children go down there because they see it as ‘dirty and dangerous.’” 

Bringing Back the Don, 1991

The lack of entry points was another issue that was raised in the 1991 report. “Even for many who would be interested in going there, they had no idea how to gain access.”

Decades later, residents are echoing these same concerns. The Toronto Star published an article this past weekend on why the ravines by E.T. Seton Park are largely underused by residents, listing safety concerns and lack of access points as contributing factors.

Although the chance of incurring an injury or encountering any dangers along the ravine paths are slim, it can be hard to shake many of these rumours. By encouraging more people to discover their local ravines, the more we can lift some of the stigmas associated with one of our city’s most valuable assets. 

There are many resources and opportunities to explore these ravines either through a self-guided tour or one of the many guided tours offered in the city.

Archive photo of the Don Valley ravine, 1944 (Photo credit: Toronto Star archives).

How Are Ravines Changing?

Since early 2015, the City of Toronto has been developing a Toronto Ravine Strategy. Through consultation with the public, the TRCA  and a wide range of stakeholders, this strategy will consider improvements such as better gateways into the ravine, navigation once there and how to publicize historic places. 

The strategy, currently in draft form, will act as a framework to guide policy, investment and stewardship related to ravines with an aim to balance the fine line between protection and use. 

Last month, the Toronto Star featured an article on Charles Sauriol, his cottage and the remains of a footbridge built for his Don Valley cottage. Sauriol, a dedicated advocate for the Don Valley’s preservation, owned five acres at the Forks of the Don, four of which were across the river from Don Mills Road. As a result, Sauriol needed a bridge that could withstand the rising waters of the Don and the harsh winters of Toronto. 

Sauriol writes of an existing Taylor Creek bridge, which at the time had rapidly deteriorated following a flood in 1939. The bridge would be temporarily replaced with two pine logs and a series of planks. Despite its primitive construction, Sauriol writes that “trucks loaded with swill were driven over the bridge several times a day.” 

Taylor Creek bridge, circa 1920s (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 4, Series 80).

In his earlier years living in the Forks, Sauriol describes being able to drive across the Don by smoothing out the gravel and stones on days when the river levels were low (typically in the summer). But, he explains, “the Don was absolutely unpredictable. It could rise in the night and make the ford impassable the next morning.” At springtime levels, Sauriol was able to cross the river in hip waders, on occasion having to carry a companion on his back. “The conquest of the Forks of the Don,” he writes, “was not without its lighter moments.”

Sauriol’s various attempts to create a bridge are well documented in his book Tales of the Don, which serves as a historic look at the wild nature of the river and the importance of engineering solutions that work around our natural environment.

Seeking a better alternative to crossing the Don, Sauriol built a pier bridge sheathed in metal using railway ties, river stones and the carrying power of a local horse named Lady. By spring, ice shattered the bridge to pieces, scattering the fragments to the bottom of the Don. 

Pier bridge at the Forks, built 1921 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 4, Series 80).

For his second attempt, Sauriol hired a carpenter, who built the bridge using two holding beams, piers and a plank floor. To Sauriol’s surprise, the bridge was gone by the next morning. Heartbroken, he and the carpenter set off to find the bridge, discovering the remains in the bushes near Todmorden Park. Sauriol later discovered that someone had opened a dam upstream at Donalda, and instead of releasing the water gradually, had sent a rush of water powerful enough to carry away the bridge right off its piers. In describing how long the bridge lasted, Sauriol writes “The bridge was built to last 50 years in Florida but lasted one night on the unpredictable Don.” 

Sauriol’s next attempt was a cable bridge created by Emile Landry, consisting of four cables anchored by steel rails with a wooden basket in the middle that acted as a cradle. The bridge was eventually destroyed by Hurricane Hazel, which tore off the cables on one end and flung the bridge to the opposite shore of the Don. 

First cable bridge attempt, circa 1948 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 4, Series 80).

Six weeks later Sauriol had Landry create a second cable bridge, even better than the original.

“The bridge was a masterpiece, and so high, 15 feet above the water, as to require handrails on each side . . . The final touch was an electric switch at each end of the bridge so that we could turn on or shut off flood lights when crossing or leaving the bridge. I called it the ‘Emile Landry bridge.’”

This time it was Sauriol that decided the bridge should be demolished, since the land opposite the Don was needed to make room for the upcoming Don Valley Parkway. “All that is left today of this considerable effort are the two steel rails which are still to be seen above the sand and the steel drum that served as a buttress against long-forgotten flood waters.” 

Reflecting on his experiences with bridge building on the Don, Charles Sauriol writes, “The Don River, as I learned, was temperamental, its mood dependant upon the level of the water and the climatic conditions that governed it.”

If you’ve been lucky enough to spot salmon swimming up the Don River, you may be surprised to discover that 20 years ago fish such as chinook salmon and migratory rainbow trout were only able to access the lower 3 km of the Don due to in-stream barriers. These lower 3 km provided unsuitable environmental conditions for these fish species, and as a result spawning was unsuccessful. 

Today we can see chinook salmon in the East Don River as far as 20 km upstream from Lake Ontario. 

So what happened over the past 20 years?

Since 1996, TRCA has been instrumental in removing six significant barriers in the Don River. These efforts to re-instate aquatic habitat connectivity in the Don River was done with the support of the City of Toronto and York Region and its municipalities. 

In-stream barrier removal was originally carried out as part of the 1994 Don Watershed Management Plan implementation, which identified in-stream barriers such as mill dams, weirs and in some cases roads and culverts as limiting the movement of fish and other aquatic species.

Upper weir reconstruction May 1998 north of Pottery Road before (above) and after (below). Photo: Lost Rivers.

So what does this mean for the fish?

As a direct result of barrier mitigation projects, migratory chinook salmon, which are stocked in Lake Ontario, were found attempting to spawn in the Upper East Don River for the first time in 2005.  

Not only does successful spawning promote self-sustaining fish populations, but being able to determine the presence or absence of juvenile trout and salmon is a useful indicator to assess the health of a watershed.

Want to learn more? 

Have you ever walked past a body of water and thought that it had an unusual colour, smell or even thickness? Oil and chemical spills are not an uncommon occurrence in our watersheds. Some of these substances can be discharged to the soil, while others can make their way into our waterways either directly as overland runoff or indirectly through the storm sewer network.

However, some of these changes can be caused naturally, and despite the unusual appearance, not all of these changes are indicative of a problem. Below are some examples of natural changes to a water’s appearance that you may encounter and how these changes are caused.

Green/yellow powder or clumps

Pollen cluster. Photo credit: Brian Stansberry via Wikimedia Commons.

Seeing yellow powder in the water, especially in spring and early summer, may be a collection of pollen that has clumped together to form a floating film on the water’s surface. By early summer, as water levels lower, this pollen may be found on shoreline rocks and eventually will become waterlogged and sink, or it may collect in coves along the shore.

Oily sheen

Leptothrix bacteria. Photo credit: Rosser1954 via Wikimedia Commons.

An oily, rainbow-coloured sheen, similar to what you would see in a parking lot puddle, could be a sign of an oil spill or it could have one of several different natural causes.

Certain bacteria found in wet areas get their energy from iron and manganese, leaving behind either an oily residue, or a red or orange film or fluff. Another culprit could be the Leptothrix bacteria, which is found in standing or slow-flowing water and takes on an oily black appearance. An oily sheen in the water could also have been caused by the natural breakdown of leaves, algae and other organic material. Even the outer skins of insect casings can appear as dark clouds with an oily sheen or leave behind an oily film as these casings decompose.

As a general rule, when disturbed, if the oily substance appears to shatter and form irregular fragments like thin glass, it’s likely that the substance is natural. If, however, the substance is disturbed and later regroups into it’s original form, it’s likely to be man-made oil.

Green fuzz

Duckweed. Photo credit: Liz Sullivan via Wikimedia Commons.

Green dots that take on an almost fuzzy appearance on or close to the surface could be an algae called Gleotrichia enchinulata, which tends to show up mid-summer. Since they sit close to the surface, the wind may push the algae into concentrated areas or in coves. These green dots could also be a tiny aquatic plant called duckweed. There are several species of duckweed (a native plant to Ontario), which ranges in size from tiny leaves to dots the size of a poppy seed.

Green, brown, bluish-green or red film

Blue-green algae in Lake Erie. Photo credit: NOAA via Wikimedia Commons.

Algae can take on various colours, including a green, brown or even a red slimy appearance. Blue-green algae blooms, which can also be olive-green or red, can be caused by agricultural and stormwater runoff as well as leaching from septic systems, so take a cautious approach if spotted. Fresh blooms often smell like newly mown grass, while older blooms may smell like rotting garbage.

Foam

Natural foam in Northern England. Photo credit: David Hambidge via Wikimedia Commons.

Chemical foam. Photo credit: Lamiot via Wikimedia Commons.

Naturally occurring foam can be off-white or a brown tint with uniformly small bubbles and may have a fishy or earthy smell. Foam is caused when naturally dissolved organic materials are vigorously mixed by moving water. The bubbles that are created settle in an area where water movement is less vigorous, which is why foam can often be found close to the shore. Foam can also be caused when plants and animals decompose and release organic compounds that lessen the surface tension of water to create bubbles.

However, bright white or coloured bubbles of different sizes and possibly a fragrant smell are likely to be a by-product of soap that has entered the waterway, likely from a nearby spill or waste discharge pipe.

The impact of chemically caused spills can be devastating to downstream aquatic communities and in some cases the effects may persist in stream sediments for years after the spill has occurred. The TRCA is currently working with municipalities and other agencies to identify spill locations and spill prone areas to evaluate preventive and control options.

The Earl Bales Stormwater Management Pond blending into the natural environment at Earl Bales Park.

Did you know that the Don River watershed is home to one of the largest stormwater ponds in the country? The Earl Bales Stormwater Management Pond covers an area of 3.2 hectares--approximately four and a half times the size of BMO Field! 

The Earl Bales Stormwater Management Pond plays an important role in the Don River watershed by managing stormwater runoff and preventing flooding and downstream erosion. Intense urbanization in the Don watershed means that paved surfaced cause much of the stormwater to run off the surface. 

Before the stormwater pond, this water flowed into the Don River, resulting in streambank erosion and increased flooding during storm events. Now, stormwater is channeled and captured into the pond before it enters the river. The water is then retained, allowing suspended materials to settle to the bottom of the three-metre deep pond. 

This impressive stormwater management pond is able to collect and treat runoff from a 550-hectare drainage area that includes the Wilson Heights area and a portion of Downsview Airport. 

Pre-existing outfall from former De Havilland Creek, which now gets diverted to the stormwater pond.

What makes this project unique is how the pond water will be used. During the winter months, water will be pumped over to the Earl Bales Park ski hill and be used to make snow. In the summer months, water from the pond will be used to irrigate the fairways and greens of the Don Valley Golf Course. 

Before the stormwater management pond, this water was taken from the Don River, which adversely impacted fish habitat and aquatic vegetation. By eliminating the need for direct water withdrawals, the stormwater pond will protect fish habitat and also help to reduce demand on the city's water supply system.

If you’re traveling along the East Don trail in Charles Sauriol Conservation Reserve, you’ll come across a bridge with 15 stones, each engraved with a different year. The installation, called “High Water Mark,” was commissioned by the City of Toronto in 2011 and was created by sculptor and photographer Robert Sprachman.

The elevation of each stone represents a significant flood event that occurred during that year. The first stone represents the great flood of 1886, a few months before the mouth of the Don River would be straightened as part of a project dubbed “The Don Improvement Project.” The project called for the straightening of the Don River south from Winchester Street as a way of diverting polluted waters into Ashbridges Bay marsh. When that proved unsuccessful, the mouth was turned 90 degrees where it would empty into the inner harbour. 

To remedy the damage that was caused by this straightening, the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection project was announced to transform the existing mouth of the Don River, including the Keating Channel, into a healthier, more naturalized river outlet to the lake. This project will also remove the risk of flooding to the 240 hectares of urban land to the east and south of the existing river. 

Video showing extent of flooding at the mouth of the Don under current conditions in the event of another Hurricane Hazel-sized event (TRCA).

The final stone on the bridge is etched with the year 1998, commemorating a substantial flood that occurred that year; the same year that the Task Force to Bring Back the Don was initiated. 

The stones (a symbolic representation of water levels and not the actual recorded water levels) are a reminder of the volatility of water levels in the Don. Due to the urbanized nature of the Don River watershed, the river experiences low base flow with high volume floods. That means the water levels of the Don River can rise very quickly with moderate to heavy rainfall. 

The results of flooding can cause serious damage to property and the ecological health of the waterways and surrounding environment. TRCA Flood Risk Management works to reduce the risks caused by flooding by providing local agencies and the public with notice, information and advice so that they can respond during severe rainfall events with the potential for flooding and during flood related emergencies. 

Ski Patrol practicing on the Rosedale slopes, part of the Women's Transport Service of the Canadian Red Cross, 1941 (Toronto Star).

If you’ve walked along Milne Hollow along the East Don Trail, look up on one of the hills south of Lawrence and you might see a rusted ski lift pylon, the last remnant of the Don Valley Ski Centre.

While today, many of us venture north to downhill ski, that didn’t stop enthusiastic skiers from taking to the slopes of the Don Valley starting in the early part of the 1900s. 

So what was skiing like back then? According to the Toronto Ski Club, “The early trails were reportedly quite treacherous. Rocks, stumps, ravines running across the middle of trails, and some trails that ended in the middle of a forest—all of these were apparently common things to encounter.”

Not only was the Don Valley home to recreational skiing, but in 1934 the country’s best skiers all flocked to the valley to compete in the Ontario Championship Ski Meet. In preparation for the event, a ski jump area was constructed on the west side of the Don Valley across from where now stands the Ontario Science Centre. 

Two jumps were created: a main jump for competitions and a smaller jump for practice runs, a total cost of about $2,500. To make up for a lack of snow, the slopes were actually topped with 100-tons of ice shavings trucked in from Maple Leaf Gardens. So the next time you walk by the base of that hill, just imagine that at one time 10,000 spectators gathered at that exact spot to watch a championship ski event!

The winner of the competition was Toronto’s own Teddie Zinkin, only 17 years old at the time, who cleared a distance of 34 metres from the base of the ramp. Decades later, Don Mills native Steve Podborski would practice on the Don Valley slopes and go on to win a bronze medal in downhill skiing in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics!

All that remains of the ski jump, 1955 (Toronto Public Library).

To ride the popularity of skiing in the city, the Don Valley Ski Centre was built in the mid-1950s, located just a little north of the old ski jump. The privately owned resort provided three lifts with passes costing between $3-$5. Skiers could enjoy 200-metre runs on 40-metre high slopes running from the top of the hills by Railside Road.

While you can still find numerous cross country trails across Toronto, the Don Valley Ski Centre closed in the 1970s due to the inconsistent snow conditions.

Do you have any memories of skiing in the Don Valley? Share your experiences in the comments below!