Taylor-Massey Creek
Taylor-Massey Creek | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Ontario |
Municipality | Toronto |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Culvert in Terraview Willowfield Park |
• coordinates | 43°46′00″N 79°18′47″W / 43.76667°N 79.31306°W |
• elevation | 169 m (554 ft) |
Mouth | Don River east branch |
• coordinates | 43°42′12″N 79°19′59″W / 43.70333°N 79.33306°W[1] |
• elevation | 86 m (282 ft) |
Length | 16 km (9.9 mi) |
Taylor-Massey Creek is a tributary of the
The creek is named after two prominent Toronto families. The
Description
Taylor-Massey Creek is 16 kilometres long. Its
The creek starts in Terraview Willowfield Park, a restoration project, named after a nearby public school. It flows through two medium-sized ponds with naturalized channels. From there it flows southeast through a series of concrete lined channels and drains. This section runs along an abandoned hydro
South of Eglinton Avenue East it enters a shallow ravine and flows south passing through Pine Hills Cemetery. It exits the cemetery travelling west and enters a small park on St. Clair Avenue East. At Warden Avenue it turns southwest, moving through a park called Warden Woods. West of Pharmacy Avenue it enters a city run golf course. At Victoria Park Avenue it enters Taylor Creek Park and continues uninterrupted to where it empties into the Don River East Branch, just north of the forks of the Don.
Problems
The Taylor-Massey Creek watershed exists entirely within an urban setting and has suffered severe degradation. The upper portion of the creek is encased almost entirely in concrete lined channels which increases the flow of the river and provides little habitat. Other sections are constrained by rock filled gabion baskets. The water is heavily polluted from storm water outfalls that empty directly into the creek.
Part of a series on the |
Don Valley |
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Rivers |
Parks |
History |
Environment |
In June 2005, the city performed a water quality study that revealed the presence of high levels of E. coli bacteria and other contaminants.[4] Periodic spills from adjacent industrial lands have also increased contamination. Due to the poor water quality and the engineered riverbanks, the creek shows little signs of life.
Several places in the ravine were also once municipal landfills, although all of them have now been shut down.
Restoration efforts
In 1993, a citizens group called
In 2003, the City of Toronto implemented the Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan which calls for a reduction of storm water flow into Taylor-Massey Creek and also recommends a restoration plan that will improve habitat in the creek for fish and other water dwelling organisms.[5] In September, 2006, The TMP recommended the establishment of a Taylor Massey Watershed Management Co-ordinator as the best means of implementing Wet Weather Flow in the watershed, which is a priority under this 25-year, $1B plan.[6] The city has also pledged to locate illegal sewer hookups and redirect them into sanitary sewers.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Taylor Creek". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
- ^ Massey-Goulding Estate
- ^ Children's Peace Theatre – Massey Goulding Estate
- ^ Di Gironimo, Lou; Anderton, Rod (2005-09-21). "Report on Progress and Findings from the Storm Outfall Monitoring Program in Taylor-Massey Creek – July to September 2005" (PDF). Staff Report. City of Toronto. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
- ^ "Wet Weather Flow Master Plan (WWFMP)". City of Toronto. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
- ^ Penny, Nancy (2006-09-04). "Letter" (PDF). The Taylor Massey Project. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
- "FODE's Taylor Massey Project". Friends of the Don East. 2004. Retrieved 2006-06-07.