HomeMy WebLinkAboutEtobicoke Valley Report; Recommendations & Summary 1947Ontario Department of Planning and 'Development
HON. DANA PORTER, Minister'
Etobicoke Valley Report 1947
1947
C. A.
TECHNICAL LIBRARY
VOL
RECOMMENDATIONS
and SUMMARY
TORONTO
Printed and Published by Baptist Johnston, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty
1947
r F• -s Aw"..,
ETOBICOKE VALLEY REPORT, 1947
RECOMMENDATIONS +
STATED OR IMPLIED IN THIS REPORT
FORESTRY
1. That all lands designated for natural water storage areas be reforested
where necessary; that natural regeneration be encouraged by scientific
means wherever possible; that cattle be entirely excluded; and that cutting
in both reforested and natural woods be regulated by good forestry practices
under supervision of the Authority.
2. That studies be made to determine the best methods of establishing planta-
tions, particularly of hardwoods, on good land and wet areas, to overcome
loss from competition by weeds and damage by rodents.
3. That counties, townships and other municipalities be persuaded to.establish
much larger forests within their boundaries, or in the case of towns and cities
in the vicinity.
4. That reforestation of privately owned land be encouraged in every way and
that an inspection service be established which will record the development of
plantations set out on private land.
5. That where small areas on private land form natural water storage areas,
either in the form of surface water in swamps or ponds; or underground
water which later appears at the surface in the form of springs, these be
reforested where there is no forest cover at present, and that all cutting
thereon be regulated.
6. That areas covered by zone foresters be reduced so that each can be covered
more intensively by technically trained men.
i. That a programme be drawn up and action be taken as soon as possible to
combat the invasion of land by hawthorn and wild apple.
LAND USE
8. That sloping and eroded land be restricted to hay and pasture to protect
against erosion and excessive run -off.
9. That large areas of eroded and wet soils be kept in long term pasture for
protection of the soil.
10. That erosion control practices be introduced on cultivated land on regular
and gentle slopes.
11. That permanent ponds be surrounded by permanent cover of grass or trees
and cattle excluded from direct approach to the ponds. G C
TECHNICAL LICIRARY
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12. That co- operative efforts be made by operators and proprietors of the water-
shed to readjust land use so that permanent grass covering be established and
maintained on eroded soils.
13. That study be made of the possibility of establishing, by the Etobicoke
Conservation Authority, of a zone of pasture around the recommended
Heart Lake Forest.
WATER
14. That further exploration of ground -water resources be carried on, together
with study of existing records. The collection of additional data and informa-
tion on wells in rural areas is desirable.
15. That small check darns be built in headwater streams and erosion gullies
to control run -off, by arrangement between individuals or small groups.
16. That a few sites be selected from those shown on drawing H -13 'as suitable,
and that small dams be built to demonstrate their conservation value.
17. That a diversion channel be cut for the river at Long Branch, and extended
far enough into Lake Ontario by means of steel sheet piling to preyents and -
bar formation. That excavations be made above and below No. 2 Highway
to remove obstructions, produce better stream alignment, and encourage the
freer passage of ice.
18. That the river be diverted at Brampton, and that the present underground
conduit be backfilled.
19. That two small dams be built at Dale Basin and Snelgrove Basin, above
Brampton, to augment summer flow.
RECREATION
20. That an area of 1,300 acres in Concession II East and LII East of the Town-
ship of Chinguacousy, including parts of lots 11 to 17, as scheduled for
reforestation in the Forestry section of this Report, be constituted as a park
to be known as the Heart Lake Forest; and that it be declared a game preserve
and wildlife sanctuary and any improvements in the area be adjusted to the
prospective use of the area for organized nature study.
21. That an area of 1.17 acres along the ravine of the Etobicoke Creek, one and a
half miles north of the Dundas Highway, be acquired and improved as a
park whose facilities would include picnic and camping sites, swimming pools,
nature trails and a reforestation and erosion control demonstration.
22. That in Concession I. East of Chinguacousy Township, 99 acres, being parts of
Lots 18 and 19, be acquired and improved as a natural park and picnic site.
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WILDLIFE
23. That farmers be encouraged to improve their land for wildlife by eliminating
the grazing of woodlots, by. the planting of small trees and shrubs in waste
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lands, gullies and fence corners, and by scooping out hollows for farm
ponds in suitable locations.
24. That farmers be encouraged to control stream erosion and to improve streams
for fish by planting alders along the stream banks.
25. That steps be taken to minimize the pollution of the Etobicoke Creek from
the Brampton sewage works.
26. That Heart Lake be stocked with large mouth black bass if the lake is at
any time acquired for public ownership.
27. That if flood control dams having small permanent ponds are built on the
Etobicoke Creek, the introduction of warm pond fish of the bass family into
these ponds be undertaken.
28. That one source stream lying in an area recommended for acquisition for
reforestation and recreation purposes be considered for development as a
pond of not more than one acre for speckled trout.
SUMMARY OF CHAPTERS
PART I— GENERAL
1. LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES: The whole of the Etobicoke Watershed,
a narrow strip of country with an area of 79 square miles, is considered in
this report. It lies about five miles west of Toronto, and is bounded on the
north by the watershed of the Humber River, on the northeast by that of
Mimico Creek, and on the east by the watershed of a small creek which flows
through New Toronto. On the west and southwest the watershed borders
on the Credit River basin, and on the southeast, from a point near Meadow -
vale to the mouth, the boundary is formed by the watershed of another
small creek, locally known as the Little Etobicoke. .
2. PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY: The river system of the Etobicoke
rises in and flows through an area in which a mantle of glacial drift overlies
the hard sedimentary rock in considerable but varying depth. The slope
breaks to the east below the 600 foot contour line, roughly on a line from
Britannia to I ^rasers' Corners, and this tends to make the flow southeasterly
rather than southward. The surface drainage system is poorly developed,
as is typical of glaciated areas.
There are three main zones of glacial drift, from northwest to south-
east, approximately equal in area —a Till Plain, a Clay Plain, and a Moraine
area; smaller areas of gravel, of sandy delta, and of thin drift over bedrock
occur.
3. CLIMATE: Extremes of winter temperature are somewhat mitigated in
the southern portion of the watershed by the influence of Lake Ontario,
while the more northerly parts have winter temperatures like those of Guelph
or Owen Sound. Summer temperatures are more uniform, with the July
mean .near 68 degrees. The frost -free period varies from an average of 140
days in the north to 155 days in the south. Mean annual precipitation is
relatively low —about 31 inches, of which six inches are snow. Consequently
there is a tendency towards drought.
4. SETTLEMENT: Settlement of the watershed did not begin until after 1791.
The southern part of the area was surveyed in 1795, and some grants were
made in 1796, but the ambiguous description of the boundary of the Missis-
sauga Indian Reserve contained in the Indian Trcaty of 1787 made the
validity of further grants doubtful, and settlement was delayed. New
treaties in 1805 clarified the situation, and after this date settlement proceeded
fairly rapidly. By 1821 land grants had been made in the entire area, and by
1851 it was well settled. Very few mills were built, owing to the unsatis-
factory nature of the river as a mill stream, and the fact that the two larger
streams on either side supplied adequate water power at no great distance.
After 1851, rural population increased very slowly for about- ten years, and
then began to decline. The villages, however, continued to grow until the
1870's, after which a decline in population was experienced. Brampton has
continued to expand, and the spread of Toronto has brought a relatively
dense semi -rural population to the southern part of the watershed.
AGRICULTURE: The history of agriculture in the Etobicoke Watershed
is similar to that of all areas in Southern Ontario which were originally
covered with mixed hardwood forest. The pioneer period, characterized
by primitive methods, with simple crop rotations, or none at all, gave way to
a forty -year period of intensive grain growing from 1840 to 1880. Only
essential livestock for domestic use was kept. The quick rotation of wheat
and fallow land had serious effects on the fertility of the soil, but it was not
until after 1850 that manure began to be used. Other fertilizers were also
introduced. By 1880, western wheat production was depriving Ontario wheat
of its markets, and there was,a general change to mixed farming, which has
continued down to the present, with the main emphasis on dairy products
for the Toronto market, and the breeding of dairy cattle.
PART II —LAND
6. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS: A land use survey is a detailed inven-
ventory of the physical properties of the land and of the use to which it is
being put. Soil type, slope, erosion, and the major physical factors influencing
its use are related to present employment of land, with the purpose of planning
to the best future use. For the purpose of the survey, soils are grouped
according to the materials from which they are formed. These groups are
divided into series; all soils with a similar cross - section of layers from top to
bottom, or profile, are placed in the same series. According to their fertility,
drainage, degree of erosion, etc., soils are also classified as to their greatest
possible use, or capability, into eight classes. Remedial measures or restricted
use of the less capable classes aid in the best development of soil resources.
7. SOILS OF THE EAST BRANCH: Since time did not permit a soil survey
of the whole area, a detailed survey was carried out of 12,378 acres drained
.by the tributary which runs from Heart Lake, near Brampton, to join the
main stream near Malton Airport. The watershed of this branch was chosen.
as being representative of the soils, land use and conditions of the watershed
of the whole Etobicoke. Three distinct physiographic areas, namely, Till
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Plain, Gravel Ridge, and Bevelled Clay Plain, occur, and there are soils of
three main associations. Twenty -five percent of the region consists of fertile
Peel Clay Loam, with a tendency towards imperfect drainage, and a further
20% is of similar, but poorly drained, soils. Another group, formed on heavy
till loams, accounts for approximately 26% of the area; of this, 14°Jo is
imperfectly, and 12% poorly drained. About 17% is of well - drained light
till loams, and 10% of the region is made up of t1te less desirable muck soils
and bottomlands.
8. RELATED SOIL FEATURES AND LAND USE: As is to be expected,
the land is better drained on the steeper slopes. Erosion, which also increases
with the slope, is not apparent in 49.3% of the area. Slight erosion is evident
in 39.3% of the land surveyed, and moderate erosion in 10.6 %, while severe
erosion is confined to 105 acres, or less than 1% of the total area. All slopes
over six percent have undergone moderate or severe erosion, that is, the
humus - bearing top soil is all or nearly all gone. All the severe erosion has
taken place on soils of the light till loam association; the large amount of
sloping land and the light texture of the soil are the principal reasons for this.
Present land use shows 70.7% of the region as cropland, 19.9% as pasture,
4.4% woodland, and 4.1% in use as an airport. Less than 1% is taken up by
urban development, gravel pits, and water.
The use of land also affects erosion. Experience has shown that the
preservation of permanent plant cover in the form of pasture or woodland is
the best deterrent to the loss of topsoil. Nevertheless, erosion has occurred
in many cases in East Branch soils in both pasture and woodland. This is
partially explained by over - grazing of pasture, and the pasturing of woodlots.
Also, some of the present pastures and woodlots are on land that was formerly
cultivated, so that erosion took place in the past. There is apparently a
tendency to retire depreciated land to pasture, and this has in many cases
checked the spread of erosion; it also reduces the true figure for erosion on
cropland, and raises that for pasture. According to present land use; 52.8%
of cropland, 49.3% of pasture, and 47.8% of the woodland have suffered
some degree of erosion.
9. RESUI'TS OF THE SURVEY: The system of land use capability classes
was used in the survey. All land may be classified into one or more of the
following eight classes:
Land Suitable for Cultivation:
I. Land suitable for cultivation by good farming methods with-
out special practices.
11. Land suitable for cultivation. with one or more. special practices
such as contour ploughing and strip - cropping on gentle slopes,
long rotations on hummocky land or underdraining.
III. Land suitable for cultivation with intensive use of the same
kind of practices as Class II.
Land Suitable for Occasional or Limited Cultivation:
IV. Land suitable for occasional cultivation with limited use and
intensive practices. Its chief use is for long term hay or pasture
with cultivation limited to reseeding.
Land Not Suitable for Cultivation but Suitable for Pasture or Woodland:
V. Land suitable for pasture* or woodland with no special
restrictions.
VI. Land suitable for pasture or woodland with moderate restric-
tions.
VII. Land suitable for pasture or woodland with severe restrictions.
Land Not Suitable for Productive Vegetation:
VIII. Marshes and other areas incapable of producing vegetation of
economic importance other than for wildlife.
The classification of the land according to capability on the Etobicoke
shows that more than three quarters of the area is Class I and Class II land,
with Class II predominating. Present land use of these groups is well
adapted to their capabilities. Although special measures intended. to,control
erosion are not systematically carried out, the emphasis on hay and pasture
in rotation, as well as the necessity for large areas of permanent pasture helps
to check erosion. On. poorly drained lands, owners have not attempted to
grow grain crops; these are suited to hay and pasture, and are mainly used
for those purposes. Most of the remainder of the area is made up of Class V
land, suitable for pasture or woodland with no special restrictions.
The practices indicated in the table as best suited to the various classes
of land are discussed in detail and applied to conditions on the Etobicoke.
On gently undulating land, contour ploughing and strip- cropping will. halt
erosion; on irregular or hummocky land restricted or long rotations are most
effective; and where it is imperfectly drained, crops should be selected that
can stand cold or wet land, or underdrainage should be installed. Some Class
IV land requires underdrainage to support hay. Class V land in the area
is generally not suitable for drainage, and is best kept in pasture mixtures
which will stand flooding or woodlot adapted to wet land. Land suitable
for pasture or woodlot when under permanent cover should be handled in
such a way as to check erosion. It is better suited to woodlot than to
pasture.
On the whole, land use is well adapted to capability, but some land is
still being cropped that is best suited to pasture, and the area of forest
cover is definitely too small. Only 41 acres of the best land are in woodlot,
while much of the land in the poorer classes is in crops, and the return of
the poorer classes to forest is indicated.
10. PLANNING LAND USE: The control of erosion involves one principle,
the maintenance of soil organic matter content. A soil with a good balance
of organic mineral matter in its top horizon will absorb and retain water.
This condition occurs naturally on uncleared land, but on cultivated land
plant residue must be returned to the soil in the form of mulch, green manure,
animal manure, compost, and the roots of hay and pasture plants.
Conservation farming, including long term rotations, cultivation on the
contour rather than up and down the slopes, and strip - cropping, together
with the maintenance of water diversions and grassed waterways, enables the
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individual farmer to obtain the most satisfactory returns from his land, while
at the same time maintaining the fertility of the soil and reducing erosion to
a minimum. The plan should be based on the land capability classification,
and usually the help of an expert is required to prepare it. In this area,
Class II land, where it is on relatively even slopes, would be materially assisted
by conservation farming practices. Class III and IV land should be restricted,
as already stated. a dethesa eas of Class
Class VIland
and VIIlandrare suited
itable for
wood-
lot than pasture,
tree planting.
A special problem is presented by the heavy demand for pasture in the
Etobicoke Watershed —so heavy that 1,500 acres of land suitable for con-
tinuous cultivation have been left in pasture —and the necessity of reconciling
this demand with any scheme to restore forests. With an analysis of pasture
requirements and pasture capabilities for. the whole watershed, steps could
be taken to meet these requirements and serve the interests of conservation
at the same time, by slight adjustments of land use through co- operation
between operators and proprietors of the district. The question of water
supply for pasture also enters into the problem.
A suggested basis for a planned land use project is the acquisition of a
plantable area, and its reforestation; most of these areas are surrounded by
land suitable for pasture, which suggests a pattern of woodlots surrounded
by belts of pasture. If the forest were laid out to give as long a border as
possible, division of the continuous belt of pasture could be carried out to
make the best possible use of water supply. The inclusion of cultivated land
in forest would be questionable, but in view of the local dairy cattle economy,.
its inclusion in pasture is not subject to serious objection. Such a project
would offer protected streams and ponds, with cover for wildlife, better
stream flow, pasture to protect eroding soils, and would serve as a model for
future efforts.
PART III — FORESTS
11. THE FOREST: The original forest, predominantly hardwood, covered the
entire tivatershed. Clearing commenced with the beginning of settlement,
and has proceeded until only 5.4% of the area remains in woodlot. Timber
and wood products played an important part in the economy of the region
until the dwindling supplies brought the trade to a halt. After 1910, its
importance was small: Maple sugar production, never great, declined
correspondingly.
12. FOREST CONSERVATION MEASURES IN PROGRESS: As com-
paratively little land suitable for reforestation exists within the watershed,
conservation in the form of planting has not been extensive.
A few small private plantations have been established in the watershed,
totalling about 20 acres, but the individual areas are very small, largely
because of the small amounts of submarginal land available.
There are no county forests in the watershed and no demonstration
plantations but it is recommended that the townships of Chinguacousy,
Toronto and Etobicoke establish such plots. Demonstration woodlots, in
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which the owner has agreed to follow forestry practices outlined by the
Department of Lands and Forests, should be encouraged. One of these is
situated north of Summerville. No schools within the watershed have yet
established school forests, but 28,937 trees have been distributed to pupils
for planting,on their own farms. In all, 639,762 trees have been distributed
to Municipalities lying within or partly within the F_tobicoke Watershed.
It is recommended that 2,144 acres of the area should be kept as permanent
forest.
13. FOREST CONSERVATION MEASURES REQUIRED: Every effort
should be made to retain what little forest cover remains, to protect natural
water storage areas, and to provide wood for some of the local needs. AIthough
little submarginal land exists within the area, it is recommended that as much
reforesting of this as possible be carried out, particularly since most of it is
adjacent to either surface or underground water reservoirs. Four areas, the
Cheltenham swamp, of 300 acres, the area around Heart Lake, 1,300 acres,
the Dixie Woods area, 250 acres, and the Summerville Woods, 139 acres,
should be maintained as permanent forest by the Conservation, Authority.
Reforestation is required in run -down woodlots, on the gravelly phases
of Ontario loam, and on ?Huck and bottomlands adjoining swa.mps. These
last areas present special problems. Present woodlots which have suffered
from over - grazing should be supplemented by planting. About 100 acres
which have been invaded by hawthorn and wild apples should be cleared of
these to prevent their further spread. It is recommended that the power to
control tree cutting should be granted to the Conservation Authority; the
land would remain the property of the owner, as would the products from it,
but cutting would be regulated according to the best forestry practice, and
the community would benefit from controlled flow in the streams lower down.
14. PRESENT WOODLOT CONDITIONS: Seventeen different cover types
exist in woodlots on the Etobicoke Watershed. These are described in this
chapter. Ninety -one percent of the woodlots are in pure hardwoods, two
percent in mixed woods, and six percent pure conifers. Uneven -aged stands
predominate. Fifty -nine percent of the woodlots in the watershed are being
grazed, a practice detrimental to their development. Sixty -six percent
require planting to bring them back to a fully stocked stand. The most
important single factor in improving woodlots is the exclusion of cattle.
It is recommended that the authority appoint a superintendent who would
manage the woods owned by the authority, check cutting regulations in
private woodlots, and have the necessary equ'pment to fight fire and com-
bat insects and disease.
PART IV —WATER
15. GROUND WATER: No consideration of r'ver valley development or
conservation or of redevelopment of agricultural areas could be adequate or
in any way complete without some mention of that water which occurs
beneath the surface of the earth., and particularly of that part of the sub-
surface water within the zone of saturation, the ground water. It is this
water which is primarily responsible for the continued flow of surface streams,
and it supplies to a very great extent our domestic and industrial require -
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ments. This chapter elaborates this statement, and contains a survey of
the ground -water supplies within the watershed. More data should be
obtained before a solution of the problem of diminishing supply can be
offered.
16. THE RIVER: The Etobicoke River drains 79 square miles of well populated
and largely fertile land on the north shore of Lake Ontario. The West Branch
rises about twenty-three, miles from the lake, on the eastern slope of a low
ridge which forms part of the divide between the drainage areas of the
Etobicoke and Credit Rivers, while the East Branch, which has its ultimate
source near the village of Mayfield, draws much of its water from springs
northwest of Brampton. The two branches join at a point between eight and
nine miles from the lake. The West Branch drops less abruptly, about 24.5
feet per mile, than does the East Branch with a fall of 31 feet per mile.
The problem of low summer flok has always existed to some extent, but
since 1870 or earlier it has been serious, and increasing population in the
southern part of the watershed renders a solution imperative.
Encroachments on the flood plain of the river are serious especially in
the town of Brampton and a part of the village of Long Branch.
17. FLOODS ON THE ETOBICOKE: The Etobicoke, like most other Southern
Ontario rivers, has always overflowed its banks at- intervals. No specific
mention of floods occurs until 1819, but "high water" is referred to in earlier
records. There are scattered references to floods from 1819 to 1873, but few
newspapers of the period have survived, and the record is incomplete.
However, Brampton newspapers indicate that spring floods were regular
there from at least 1857 on, and evidence from other rivers in the area seems
to indicate that the Etobicoke overflowed its banks fairly frequently during
the nineteenth century. Since 1873, there is a record of a series of floods.
These are usually the result of heavy rains, whether melting snow is present
or not. Ice blocks have often piled up the water, and caused further damage.
It would seem that this rapid run -off is related to the clearing and culti-
vation of the land.
18. HYDRAULIC DATA: The hydraulic section of the report is considered
from the viewpoint of two main problems, the excess of flow at certain times
which causes floods, and the deficiency of summer flow. The major flood
problems are at Brampton and I..ong Branch.
Stream flow on the Etobicoke has been recorded only since 1945. It is
therefore difficult to determine what the peaks of floods have been in the past.
Precipitation records indicate great variations from the mean, so that exces-
sive flows might occur in any month of the year, but other factors, such as
frozen or saturated ground, tend to hasten run -off, and this further compli-
cates the problem of estimates. In planning for future floods, a safety factor
of fifty percent over the peak for 1946 was determined upon.
A field survey was carried out in June and July, 1946, which investigated
possible water storage areas and flood control reservoirs, as well as studying
conditions at Long Branch and Brampton.
19. THE PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTION: Water control has been practised
for centuries throughout the world, but flood control as such has played a
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CREEK
ARIES
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minor role, largely because obvious flood plains -were avoided by settlers.
However, in the last century, the watersheds have been stripped of their
natural growth, the land has been cultivated, and man has encroached upon
the flood plains, building his cities at the mouths of .rivers, and cultivating the
flood plains. The tendency in the past was to assume that a large dam
above the city or area to be protected was the best §olution of the problem.
This, however, did little to correct the situation causing floods. The trend
today is towards the retention of the flood waters on the headwaters of the
river by means of a large number of smaller dams, together with planned
reforestation and farming. A plan such as this prevents erosion and silting
in rivers as well as reducing floods by equalizing river flow throughout the
year.
Where the river must also serve as a source of waterpower, there is a
conflict of interest between the conservationist and the hydro - electric
engineer, and a compromise plan must be worked out, depending on the
nature of the stream. This problem does not exist on the Etobicoke River;
what is mainly required in a river subject to severe seasonal floods and low
summer flow is dual purpose dams with controlled outlets, capable of holding
back water during floods and releasing it during summer. These dams must
be large enough to control further run -off which may occur before their
reservoirs are completely empty.
20. SMALL DAMS: Removal of forest cover and intensive cultivation of land
lowers the ground -water level, and hastens spring run -off dangerously. The
remedy lies in measures to control this run -off, such as reforestation, con-
servation farming, and large and small dams. Small dams can advan-
tageously be built by individuals or small groups at low cost from materials
readily at hand, such as logs, brush, rocks and earth. These are designed
for the smallest watercourses and erosion gullies; sketches of several simple
types are included. Danis designed to impound water to a depth of ten feet
can also be built at a cost of about $10,000; if a rock foundation is available,
the cost would be considerably less. The designs included in the report are
typical, and would have to be modified to a particular locality by an engineer.
Such dam .> may be used to impound water in the spring and let it out during
the summer to augment stream flow; in addition they provide ponds for
watering livestock or recreational purposes. The provision on the Etobicoke
of numerous small, cheap dams and some larger ones of the type shown
would benefit the community greatly.. Flooding would be considerably
reduced and summer flow would be materially increased. In conjunction
with other conservation measures, they would improve plant and wildlife
for farmers as well as townspeople. Several sites have been mapped as
suitable, and it is recommended that one or two of these dams be built as
demonstration units. Dams at all sites mapped would provide a total
storage of 19,818 acre feet, and affect 49,171 acres of land.
21. FLOOD CONTROI. AT BRAMPTON: Brampton grew up on both sides
of the river, and eventually across it. The course of the stream is extremely
winding at this point; its bed covers a length of 10,160 feet in crossing an
area 5,670 feet long. There does not appear to have been any great alteration
in its course since early days, although about 1914 some straightening and
probably some widening was done on the east side of Main Street, and
concrete retaining walls were built. Further slight changes were made in
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1920, anti others later. There are three sections of conduit in the town, with
open stream between them. Although complete information on their con-
struction is not available, it is apparent that they were built up piecemeal as
the town grew, and some sections are as much as eighty years old. The
condition of the conduit is generally unsafe: steel girders and cantilever rods
are rusted and appear inadequate, and the masonry is in bad repair. Floods
would undoubtedly cause further damage. Repairs would be very costly;
but if the present state of affairs is permitted to continue, serious collapses of
roadways, walls and buildings are possible. About $3,000 per. year has been
spent on maintaining the conduits and retaining walls.
The best solution is a diversion of the stream away from the business
section of the town, and the closing up and abandonment of the present
undesirable conduits. Several plans have already been submitted in the
past for diversions, but in each case they were rejected because of excessive
cost. The Department of Planning and Development, having made a com-
plete revision and redesign of the diversion scheme, recommends a plan
which will provide a permanent diversion capable of handling the largest
flood flows without submitting Brampton to any flood damage.
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It is recommended that the stream be straightened by cutting across the
loop it makes through the business section, starting about 120 feet southerly
from the south of the school grounds, thence across Church Street, Scott and
Nelson Streets, thence along Glendale Avenue, crossing Queen and John.
Streets, then curving to the right and crossing under the Canadian National
Railway to and down James Street to rejoin the stream at the other end of the
loop. Adequate provision is made in the design to carry the maximum flood
flows with ice. An open channel with two to one side slopes, paved to protect
against erosion, is considered to be the best type of diversion. Where it
passes under streets or under the railway, it is proposed that a circular arch
conduit be used. Also provided for are forty foot concrete approaches to
and exits from the circular arches, with warped or faired surfaces to induce
smooth flow in the transition from the trapezoidal open cut. The cost of
constructing this diversion is estimated at $367,478, including reasonable
figures for property which would have to be expropriated. Also included is an
estimate for closing and backfilling the old conduits, which should be done
for reasons of safety and health. Main's creek would be provided for by a
pipe line of suitable size in the present conduit.
It is further recommended that two small storage darns be built above
Brampton, one at the Dale Basin site, the other at the Snelgrove Basin site.
Sample designs are submitted. These dams are of the $10,000 or more class,
and their purpose would be to provide recreational facilities and some measure
of summer flow.
22. FLOOD CONTROL AT LONG BRANCH.: The area of the Etobicoke
flood ,cha.nnel lying between the Canadian National Railwav and Lake
Ontario, and known locally as "the flats ", is the one most affected by floods.
Old maps show that the river formerly had two channels through this area,
of which one is now a blind snigh. Within 200 feet of the lake, there is a
90- degree bend in the present channel, which directs the river sharply to the
west for about a quarter of a mile before it flows into the lake. A narrow
sandbar or peninsula separates this portion of the channel from the lake;
1.4
at the end of this peninsula the exit is constantly being filled in by gravel
washed up by lake storms. A .recent count shows that 277 families live in
this area, of whom 197 are affected by flooding.
Flooding of the flats occurs from two causes:
(1) Abnormally high lake levels;
(2) Spring freshets, aggravated by ice jamming at various places in
the lower river, and excessive run -offs from heavy rains at other
times.
The bend in the river already described contributes largely to the forma-
tion of ice jams.' Timber retaining walls erected there in 1930 have helped
to prevent flood water from running over the sandbar but have done little to
alleviate flood conditions generally in the flats. Lake levels have been
between 242 and 248.9 feet since 1838, figures which are significant when one
realizes that most of the land in the flats is below the 250 foot level. Rises
to 248 feet, such as have occurred in the past, with wind action raising the
level even more, cause floods of longer duration than those caused by river
run -off, since the lake does not rise or fall rapidly.
In order to study flood conditions at Long Branch, a scale model of the
Etobicoke River and flats was constructed, and tests were carried out in the
Hydraulics Laboratory of the University of Toronto. Ice jams and obstruc-
tions were simulated, and the amount of flooding determined for various
volumes of stream flow. Further tests were then made with a scale replica
of a 60 -foot channel cut - through the bend, allowing.for a small ice jam in
the old channel, and finally, with the old channel completely blocked off.
These tests revealed that river floods can be completely controlled by such a
diversion, up to a flow of 2,230 cubic feet per second, a rate much greater
than any observed in the past several years.
A plan for the diversion has been prepared. It would have sides cut with
two to one slope, protected from erosion by two feet of rock rip -rap, and
would be carried out into the lake by steel sheet piling sections, to prevent
the formation of bars across the channel. The old channel should be filled
in to provide access to the western part of the bar. A suitable steel culvert
could be placed under the causeway thus formed. The estimated cost of con-
structing this cut at prices existing in Larch, 1947, is $34,000.
In addition to this, it is recommended that excavations of earth and gravel
be made above and below No. 2 Highway, to remove obstructions, produce
better stream alignment, and encourage the freer passage of ice. The cost of
this work is estimated at $4,000.
PART V— WILDLIFE AND RECREATION
23. WILDLIFE: Planning for wildlife in Southern Ontario has two objectives.
The first is to retain for the average citizen the opportunity to see and enjoy
the varied forms of wildlife indigenous to the region concerned, in the greatest
possible variety. The second is to give the average citizen the opportunity
to hunt and fish, within the law, in an attractive environment, or to trap for
fur for profit where possible. At the same time, adverse effects on farming
practices must be guarded against. The Etobicoke Watershed shows almost
15
R
complete elimination of cover for the larger and more spectacular forms of
wildlife. Although it formerly supported an extensive population of game
and other wildlife, this has dwindled very considerably. The types which can
be retained on the watershed are discussed in this chapter, together with the
possibility of improving fishing. The intensive cultivation and settlement
preclude any very extensive measures, but some improvements can be made,
principally around Heart Lake, .in conjunction' withtwater conservation and
recreational planning.
24. RECREATION: Recreation is discussed with particular reference to the
nearness of the large city of Toronto, whose metropolitan area will eventually
include part, of the watershed. Such: plans for the expansion of Toronto as
are already in existence are fully taken into account, and a survey of the
Etobicoke Watershed has been made =with these needs in mind. Three good
natural park sites are recommended for development, namely around Heart
Lake, along the river in Toronto and Etobicoke Townships, and near Snelgrove.
The total area of these parks would be 1,516 acres.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
CONSERVATION BRANCH
A. H. RICHARDSON,,M.A., S.M. Silv., F.E., P.Eng.
Chief Conservation Engineer.
C. E. BUSH, B.A.Sc., O.L.S., D.L.S., P.Eng.
Hydraulic Engineering.
A. S. L. BARNES, B.Sc. F.
Forestry.
W. J. P. CRESWICK,, B.A.
Soils.
K. M. MAYALL, M.A., B.Sc.F. .
Wildlife and Recreation.
H. F. CROWN, B.S.A.
Extension.
r
VERSCHOYLE BLAKE,
Historical Research:
PROFESSOR G. ROSS LORD, S.M., Ph.D.
University of Toronto,
Consultant in Hydraulic Engineering.
PROFESSOR F. P. IDE, M.A., Ph.D.
University of Toronto,
Consultant in Fish Research.
16
't �'4"! QUESTIONS :,AND..ANSWERS�, "
4( ONes'u
THE . �ONSERVATIOLV „AUTHORITIESL' "ACT, ' ,�,
y t4tir Jy, rtx•it1Yt i r r t
nr t ,`rw t" ,:.i1 ',<i r IJn$tatuYes of Dn ano 1946 Chapter Th z �,fi•� �rrr
're -,mil f m P11`uo, i"q:.,Fuunr d�ls,-.�t, Batt zta rrxs7 •t, Y..i., tdr , 1- zacz;,'C;,..
L„ Question :,y What,is a,watershed ?, ttwtq �:
RIO —1-111 3L'r y.vi Z.. ,, _ � Jt „, it
lz� , h -,
Answ6r: A watershed shall mean an. area drained by, a river and its' tributaries. 1 (k)
zo
2'ti Question tt What rs 1he'first step m estabhshmg a Conservation Authority2,.
: Answer:l, ;Tiwwor'more municipalities':situated either 'wholly +.or =partly within any water -
in anivr..,,'vl vrf:!shed;t may rpetitionfthe. Ministers, ofrPtiblib,,W .oi•ks,'to- 'call'.a "rneeting for the
�israsler o - moestablishln&,of a Conservation •Authority. ",The;Minister'of Public Works shall
fix the time and place for such'meeting and shall notify.•thei.council of every
municipality in the watershed to send,a representative. 3, (1)
dv6:7: °J * -i i.V,.o ...:y. t +.,,,.ea ',`,vti,.,.e74H -,odi dL, .. ,.1 .. n. -..
'q. I,..r�
.3. Question: What is a municipality under the Acr)
1t Answer:` - A mtinicrpehty�`shell mean
a' sty ;,town,- .village; and township`s not a county.
)11T „x:J 1l Cf1Y 114.. .. .. .• rt.... .. .4„ -. ,., -. ,
4. Quesfion: How many representatives may a municipality send.to, the first meeting?,: -
nr Arawa�:,;, ,A:municipahty;with;a;populatioa of om,.S0.000 sendsAhree representatives,
a municipality with more than 10,000 papuiatioa•:and.<lessthan 50,000 sends
two, and a municipality with a population of less. than 10,000 sends one
+repreteatative.3 "(2)
S. Question: What is a quorum at such a meering7.�
Answer: Two- tlrirds,of ,the. "representatives. which the municipalities notified are entitled
to appoint. 3 (3) --
fa,.Qnesffeee ._What action must this meeting; take to set up an' Authority?
:
Answer:
The meeting must pass a sesolutsan a Sead it. to the S4i: aster. Of Public OrlrS
after which, the Lieutenant-Governor iti Council may, establish ,a Conservation
Authority. 4 (1) ,,,.0 .:. '; <'. 1 .. - .
7 Question "
Haw is name of the Authority selected?' :... .," .. - �.:
Answer: The name is determined by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council and shall
conclude with the words "Conservation Authority". 4 (2)
&.,,Queafion:; If, two, ar;.more watersheds, wish =to.join. in forming an Authority what is the
n _ pu'ocedure? ..r
Ana.wer `'Three municipalities situaie- extber wholly or partly within two or more water-
sheds, follow;ihe same procedure as above. 5 :• „i::: r
9 r Questroh How:are the fnernbers!of an'Authonty`appomted>
�S.Jt nre„�_4;y
rrAnswer: In the same;.way, asrrepresentatives are appointed to the, first : meeting called
K” for setting;up the, Authority ,, but, the, ,representatives j.need not be the same
ist;i *t;A . ?tpelsons,as, those' who.attended,the;;inauguration, meeting'.;_6,.(1)
10. Question: Who calls the fast meeting of an Authority?
eta -st ry r,ko,kn ,u ,ot rr•, c, 'tt- ,,:,itrs:p
Answer: The Munster of Public Works 6 (3)
:,urb.,- ,e• "s,3t ?iii iaol.u., r... , ^.. tip
a.
11:+:9rustibn:: Does the Ontario Government appointea nreinber• or:members,to'an Authority?
1"w 'r[L `u ta, t &' id t Vb1b ;3};vT+- .)& +A '3n1L''nu',a ri t'x"�tTFlu,
rr A,i ee .- J. ?LIf the:,Lieutenant- Governor;m Councillmakes a grantito an Authority he may
ifappoint the, chai;mankof the,Aut}horityl8:.(1);;the chairman of the executive
committee tl0, (3) or,a (member; of,the Authority 6 (2) r,
(C"y !,fit or 31' r'ntfit, ,'4,u 7q 17 "tr {ta1 a .r a
12 Question Who are the Officers of an Auttr0nty?
r t aini r ,, , r rr 1. ,,'.:n. .,.•
Answer, Chairman and Vice Chairman 8 (1)
13. Question: What other employees may be appointed ?'� -
ru,Answer:gI Chief - Officer; ' Secretary = Treasurer .and;othera as requireii. 9 (1)') n• „ +..,rin ,.
rgbod milt') :Mnt - .o
14..Que_stiom, Does• the Ontario; Government exercise :any,:tmntrol,over, schemes which are
proposed by an'Authonty7 .
baYe,lrlaretgaT • ¢,., . , wo �zlrwrl/tuA r 4:f
Answer: Yes, before proceeding with a scheme ren `'Authority - ?'shall 'file plans and e
description thereof, with, and obtain the approval in writing of the Minister
of Lands and Forests, the Minister. of, Planning, and. Development, and the
Minister of Public Works. (12j
15. Question: What is meant by a scheme under, the Act?
Answer: l °VA,scheme'shallymean;any type of(work) undertaken , by , an'Authority for the
purpose ot-con restoration, and ,development of natural resources,
other than gas, oil,`coalrendtminerals;`and' the control of water in order to
prevent floods and pollutionor, for any such purposes- 1 (j)
16. Question:` IUtheimunicipality', does -not benefit from,,a scheme or ;schemes"' proposed by
the•.•Authbriiy °does• it stilllsemainla member,of the Authority?
Answer: �No, it ceases to become a member. 15 ..
r. «w
17. Question: aWhatrare some of the..powers of an.Autho_ rityi' ..r....7T 4 t �a w (,
l_,ate f �I l 1r3;1' °l1 ,1f.. .,�_- J = ''1 - , -- ✓' -
Answer: To,build dams and reservors,,,to,.purchase, acquue,,,and„ expropriate land for
carrying out its, schemes, to purchase. or .acquire personal property, to purchase
material, to u'se'lands'ivhicli are° owried' or" controlled by the Authority, to
collaborate with other departments, agencies, municipal councils and local
boards and other organizations, to plant andr'produce trees," i67 cause research
to be . done and to do all such acts as are necessary for, the, due carrying out
t ' " of any scheme.' Alter the course of ' any river, canal; brook, stream` or water
course, and: to divert or alter, as well temporarily ,as ,permanently, the course
of any 'iver, -stream road, street, or way, or 'raise oi sink the'level of the same
s ifinl order, to carry', it^ over..or:under,on.thcrlevel,of, or_bythe. side of any-works
xi?' rr:S r%,- z >ibuilt;or, toi be,built .by.,the `Authority: And tto'.divert : :or. alter the position of
ci.• o4 jany. °water +pipe,. gas.;pipe; :sewer. drain;or. any telegraph, telephone or electric
r;:: k„ G rrr-wiretor,pole. 18; :(a =k), 17c :(a. &b),u *u1 _ =.I1 b -a. s ;n) 4A
18. Question: Does tile'Conservation Authority exercise' any control"over 'drainage works
which are proposed in a watershed?
Answer: • Yes, any drainage works. undertaken in the .watershed . after .the establishment
of an Authority shall be undertaken only with the approval in' writing of `the
Authority. (24)
19; Question:'.. Does ari'Authority.pay tax 'on land which it owns?
-Answer: a , Yes; :butt not iii - excess of the'assessed value' of the ,land immediately, prior to
such•acqui oh.'31.(1); -„
20. Question.; Does the Authority pay taxes on dams or other -
structures ,built by itself in
connection with a conservation scheme?
Answer: They pay no municipal taxes. 31 (2) z `
2 'Qrrestion: Who apportions`tbe benefits of a scheme to'the'm' unic4paiities ?.
)M
Answer: The Authority determines the proportion of the total benefit afforded to all
the participating municipalities �which.is afforded�to:.each of'them,:andl sends
a notice containing a statement of. such apportionment to the council of each
.-, .,
-° , participating'mumcipaii{y'by' prepaid registered'inail' 14' (1) � . • ''
22. Question: Can a municipality appeal this decision?
Answer: Yes, any municipal council,which is, dissatisfied , with .any.such,apportionment -
may appeal to the Ontario Municipal 'Board to have apportionment reviewed.'
,s. J4 (2) -- -.;a? •-r-s x; �.:.txtsrsJ`.x9 -� `�[kT e_,n:'zt,
23. Question: How is money raised to carry on the work of an Authority.
:. FAnswer v Money' required bylan'Authority is, divided' =into t5✓o'groupsfnamely; iirn38:'for'
capital expenditures, such as large projects, and monek4or the maintenance
of its works including salari es of,,employees „office- expenses,,etc., 34
.�t.le,w -.,�v.t 'au . i.;.,a.. -..w Y. �,,.. :.,.... ..,, s...,.....x.y. , ._ ...i..... .,..��.
24. Question: How is money raised for, aefraying -capital = expenditures ?''laif'
Answer: . The proportion tof�money4socrequired which each parti cipating municipality,
shall raise, shall be in` the same proportion as the benefit derived by each
:r = tom =c such' municipality bears to the'total benefit' derived�by all the parti'cipa'ting
,j,' orss � d municipalities: -Each: ''participating "municipality shall `raise by the issue of
debentures or' otherwiseISUth'�rnone'y asg may be "required =byAhe Authority
for capital expenditures. 34 (3)
S C1 ;,1"ddrJA ac J:10 c.3 : fl! ,r odw :s:olt .euIP, 0
25. Question: How is money for maintenance raised? Y
( G) 6 .r:UVl >W w4 1? - ":txiti =. krfi A. -nP
Answer: After determining the approximate total cost of maintenance for the succeeding
,,_calendar, year, -the tAuthority,shall.Apportioni sucha;cost to ,.the participating,t
municipalities according to, the' benefit derived by each such municipality and
,,a v xi , ri:'.�stheNarriount''app6' boned shall "lie lamed- against eac such%iiAicipality: `The
xG ; clerk of; the'- municipality'shall calcule'te'=and' insert` theSseSne'lin the collector's
roll for ilia current year'and, such amount'sliall "be' collected ihi'the same manner
as municipal taxes for general purposes and paid, over to the Authority. 35 (2)
, k•5airus+ sM�
to r,arstu ::.z7 �,. or' °.r '. st�yc °..u(j .it
26. Question: Is it necessary for a municipal council, to consult and get • the assent of the
electors before contributing moneytora` scheme' pr'oposed6p4he Authority?
Answer: It is not necessary. 36_bj11- i0rrgs �d t:.e,z -, ;olgrlr! e' -nuo tarrll ;rY..'sr,_%JQ 11
27. Question: Can a conservation ;Authority,,accept, grants ,of d honey ",for„ the carrying:(out
Of its schemes from other bodies?
`Answer: Yes; 'the act§ specifically states that the Lieutenant - Governor in _ Council'may'l
make a grant to an Authority out of such' funds "as -may be appropriated
q,.. therefor:.by the Legislature., 38
l DEP9RTMENTa';0F° AND DEVELOPMENTS
PARLIAMENT'BUILDINGS a« ..•,. , ,
st�r:TORONTO ni'?._..... <.v. ..o