EAST DON TRAIL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Community Liaison Committing Meeting #2 June 4, 2013 6:30 to 8:30 pm Flemingdon Park Library – 2 nd Floor, Meeting Room #1
Agenda 1. Welcome 2. Relevant Planning Initiatives 3. Existing Conditions 4. Problems and Opportunities 5. ‘Alternatives To’ the Problem/Opportunity 6. Evaluation of ‘Alternatives To’ the Problem/Opportunity 7. Next Steps 8. Closing East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Relevant Planning Initiatives The project objectives, identified problems and opportunities, and opportunity statement were created utilizing the following planning initiatives • Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan (2012) • Toronto Bike Plan – Shifting Gears (2001) • A Healthy Toronto By Design Report. Road to Health: Improving Walking and Cycling in Toronto (2012) • City of Toronto Walking Strategy • City of Toronto Parks Plan 2013-2017 • The City of Toronto Official Plan (2006) East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Physical • Groundwater and Baseflow Environment • Stormwater Management and Water Quality • Natural Cover: Flora; Wetlands Natural • Fauna: Wildlife and Habitat; Fish and Fish Habitat Environment • Potential ESA Social and • Land Use Cultural • Trails Environment Technical • East Don Historical Changes /Engineering • Geomorphic and Geotechnical Conditions East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Sitewalk – May 30, 2013 Location 1 - Anewen Drive On May 30, 2013 members of the CLC and We will enter from Anewen Drive and head down to Project Team went on a sitewalk to look at the large erosion scar where we will stop to discuss some of the existing conditions that exist within some of the existing conditions in this area. the Study Area. • Erosion scar • Potential ESA • Possible bridge crossings Location 2 - Linkwood Lane Park We will park along Linkwood Lane and walk into the park where we have a good view of some of the following existing conditions: • Hydro Corridor • Flemingdon Golfcourse • Trail Connection Location 3 - Don Trail System at South end of Study Area Time permitting, we will head down to the south end of the study area and the south connection point. • Toronto Water Access Route • Trail Connection East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Sitewalk Insert photo Insert photo East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Groundwater and Baseflows • River flow is generally made up of groundwater discharge (baseflow) and land surface runoff • Baseflow accounts for 49% of mean annual discharge in the Don • Rate of groundwater recharge has been reduced due to impervious surfaces East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Stormwater Management and Water Quality • Faster flow rates, increased flood risk, erosion, and reduced water quality as a result of urbanization and lack of modern stormwater management. • Combined sewers carrying both stormwater and sanitary sewage regularly overflow during rain events • Stormwater management pond recently retrofitted within Moccasin Trail Park • Surface water quality received fairly poor to very poor ratings, indicating very substantial organic pollution is likely East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Natural Cover: Flora Natural Cover Regional Study Local Study Type Area (ha) Area (ha) Forest 126.7 52 Successional 36.8 9.4 Meadow 28.5 5.8 Wetland 13.9 5.1 Bluffs 4.3 3.3 Vegetation Communities • 75 communities (local study area), 18 regionally significant (L2&3) • Dominated by Fresh-Moist Manitoba Maple Lowland (L5) deciduous forest at 10.5 ha Species - 43 of regional concern (L2 and L3) Non-Native - 40% are non-native, most are invasive East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Natural Cover: Flora Species at Risk Invasive Species Butternut Common Reed Garlic Mustard Manitoba Maple East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Natural Cover: Wetlands Regional study area • 13.9ha total size, 22 community types Local study area • 5.1 ha total size, 15 community types: 10 marsh and 5 swamp East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Fauna: Wildlife and Habitat Habitat • Quantity is low and quality is poor – Based on patch size, shape and matrix influence • 12% Natural Cover • Ravines play an important role in providing wildlife corridors and linking habitats • Atlantic and Mississippi flyways Species • Includes both species of concern and invasive species East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Fauna: Wildlife and Habitat Invasive Species at Risk Species of Concern European Starling Eastern Meadowlark Eastern Wood Pewee • Threatened (MNR) • Invasive • Special Concern • Habitat includes • Aggressive competitors, (COSEWIC) grasslands and high reproductive ability, • Breeds in forest agriculture lands and adaptable to new habitat environments East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Fauna: Fish and Fish Habitat Blacknose Dace Longnose Dace Creek Chub • Fragmented and degraded White Sucker Common Shiner habitat; aquatic ecosystem Fathead Minnow function is severely Johnny Darter impaired • Low riparian cover Blacknose Dace • Low diversity fish and Longnose Dace benthic communities Creek Chub White Sucker • Pollution-tolerant native fish Fathead Minnow species Johnny Darter • Exotic species include Common carp Blacknose Dace Longnose Dace Creek Chub White Sucker East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Fauna: Fish and Fish Habitat Common Native Species Invasive Species White Sucker Common Carp Longnose Dace East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Potential ESA • Wigmore Park Ravine Potential ESA • Criterion A: – potential habitat for Butternut, 19 significant flora species, 6 significant vegetation communities, 1 significant fauna species • Criterion B: – river section provides excellent examples of meandering in the Don River watershed • Criterion C: – 76 L1 to L4 species, 61 vegetation communities, total area 46ha East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Land Use 4 Wards: 26 Don Valley West, 29 Toronto-Danforth, 31 Beaches-East York, 34 Don Valley East 36% 25% 24% 12% 5% 5% 4% 2% East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Existing Trails Surrounding multiuse trails include existing East Don, Gatineau Corridor Trail, Lower Don, Taylor Creek, West Don/Wilket Creek, and Don Mills Extensive network of informal trails already present within local study area Informal Trails East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Existing Conditions Geomorphic and Geotechnical Analysis East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Opportunity Statement Opportunity Statement: A significant gap in the multi-use trail network exists within the East Don Corridor between Existing East Don Trail (East of Wynford Heights Crescent), Gatineau Corridor Trail (at approximately Bermondsey Drive), and the Don Trail System. The East Don Trail will fill this existing gap in the trail network thus creating a continuous connected trail network. Project Objectives: • Create a Connection • Natural Environment • Recreation • Ensure Public Safety • Transportation/Safe Travel Route East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Alternatives To Alternatives To identify ways of solving the problem in the Problem and Opportunity statement; they are solutions to the undertaking Two “Alternatives To” are being considered: 1. Do Nothing 2. Provide Multi-Use Trail Connection The Alternatives To are a result of previous planning initiatives undertaken outside of the EA process by the City of Toronto: The Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan and the East Don Trail Master Plan Update East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Alternatives To • Do Nothing – The alternative “Do Nothing” will consist of no action, no trail infrastructure will be constructed and improved access will not be created into the valley lands. No improvements or changes would be made directly to solve the problems(s) identified. • Provide Multi-use Trail Connection – The Alternative “Provide Multi-use Trail Connection” will consist of constructing a multi-use trail from the existing East Don trail to the Lower Don trail, a trail connection will also be constructed to the Gatineau Corridor Trail. This option will also explore additional access points. East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Evaluation Alternatives To Broad Evaluation Criteria • Functional Value • Natural and Physical Environment • Social and Cultural Environment • Cost • Technical • Supports Planning Initiatives East Don Trail Environment Assessment
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