Summary Report and Implementation Plan - Partners in Project Green

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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. 54
GTAA Living City Project Etobicoke Creek Watershed Map 10 55
Page 1 and 2: GTAA Living City Project Etobicoke
Page 4 and 5: Table of Contents Summary Report an
Page 10 and 11: GTAA Living City Project Integratio
Page 12 and 13: entire Etobicoke Creek watershed. T
Page 16 and 17: Wet ponds can be designed as an eff
Page 18 and 19: 3.0 Key Recommendations The key rec
Page 20 and 21: Table 1 Key Recommendations and Ben
Page 22 and 23: 4.0 Implementation In order to real
Page 24 and 25: Table 2 Priority Implementation Sch
Page 38 and 39: 6.0 Monitoring and Measuring Progre
Page 40 and 41: Appendices Appendix 1: Candidate Re
Page 42 and 43: Appendix 1: Candidate Restoration S
Page 44 and 45: Appendix 2: Etobicoke-Mimico Habita
Page 46 and 47: Restoration Opportunities and Const
Page 52 and 53: Preliminary Project Deliverables: H

Summary Report and Implementation Plan - Partners in Project Green

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