Summary Report and Implementation Plan - Partners in Project Green

GTAA Living City Project
Integration Etobicoke Creek and Implementation
Watershed
Bramalea Road. The core area of the site is bordered
by agriculture fields and a large power grid and
power supply station to the north.
Impacting Site Features:
The creek is highly altered in some sections of the
site and lacks riparian cover. Restoration plans
that include plantings in the riparian zone should
include measures to control competition, including
both mulch mats and rodent guards on all plants.
A hydro corridor runs north-south through the site
and is currently used for agriculture. This includes
an old-field section of the corridor with some wet
meadow characteristics.
Preliminary Restoration Concept Plan:
The parts of the site that are not used for agriculture
are dominated by old-field species such as
goldenrod, teasel and field grasses, with a small
section of wooded river valley. Therefore, the
objective of the restoration efforts described here
are to advance natural succession, increase wildlife
habitat diversity, and provide riparian cover.
Riparian Planting:
Where possible a 30m-wide forested buffer
should be established along the river to
protect the banks from erosion, provide
water quality improvements and protect fish
habitat. Planting in this area will also extend
the influence of the tree and shrub nodes
towards the creek. Due to fluctuations in
water levels in the river, and the potential
for ice damage during thawing periods,
shrubs such as willows should be used in
some sections of this riparian zone instead
of trees, as they will be more resilient to
these conditions. Moreover a section of
the creek falls within the hydro corridor so
height appropriate species should be used.
Forest:
Portions of the area should be reforested
with site appropriate species to provide a
larger river valley corridor that will be more
beneficial to wildlife. Additionally a forested
strip should be planted along the edge of
the hydro corridor to provide a buffer to the
adjacent industrial area.
Tree and Shrub Nodes:
Most of the site is currently used as
agricultural land through the hydro
corridor. However, should the fields be
retired this site has been identified for the
establishment of tree and shrub nodes
suitable to a hydro corridor. Using site
appropriate, native trees and shrubs will
help to promote the natural succession
of the site by providing a seed source
for future plants, increase the amount
of forest cover in the area, and improve
habitat opportunities for wildlife. This
type of planting will also maintain the
meadow component of the site. The types
of species selected for the project should
meet the height restrictions for planting in
hydro corridors.
Wet Meadow and Wetland Enhancement:
Some small sections of west of highway 407
have been identified as having wet meadow
characteristics. This habitat element should
be emphasized and enhanced by increasing
the vegetative diversity of the site through
plantings. A larger section at the confluence
of the creeks is also characterized as wet
meadow. This area could be contoured
down and designed as a flood pond
wetland. The surrounding old field should
also be enhanced with site appropriate
shrub nodes and meadow species, as well
as critical habitat features such as brush
shelters and raptor poles.
Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH) Structures:
CWH structures such as raptor poles, bird
boxes, brush and rock piles, and coarse
woody debris should be included where
appropriate throughout the site. The
installation of these features on the site
will enhance the wildlife value of the site
by providing additional wildlife habitat
opportunities for small mammals, birds,
and amphibians.
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