Ravine
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November 2023
January 2020
PROGRESS IN Vale of Avoca RAVINE
The TRCA now expects their work on the stream reengineering project below Summerhill Gardens to be completed by March. Work on tree planting will be undertaken by Parks and Urban Forestry after completion of the project.
It is noteworthy that this project required the removal of 130+ trees, many of which were mature specimens that will take years to replace (see photos below of the current state of the area). We can expect similar deforestation in other areas where work will be required, both below Heath Crescent and in other parts of the ravine where erosion control is urgently required. While the TRCA tried as much as possible to keep native species trees where possible, the loss of mature trees is unfortunately an inevitable consequence of the necessary stream repair.
We will learn more about what Parks and Urban Forestry will do at the meeting of the VofA Working Group next week.
May 2019
RAVINE WASHOUTS UPDATE
As anybody using the steps down into the ravine from Shaftesbury will have observed, there have been some major cave-ins of the stream bank down by the washed-out southern bridge. Starting with a major storm in May 2018, a wash-out of the foundation of the wall leading to the former bridge has resulted in the creation of a second stream leading directly to the railway bridge.
As a result of the unusually large rainfall in the past few months, this second stream has grown larger and is now undercutting the slope below that part of Summerhill Gardens. Additional washouts have occurred further north, closer to the St Clair bridge over the ravine.
For the past three years, the SRA has been advocating the formation of a Working Group to come up with erosion control solutions and a plan for bringing the ravine park back to the attractive recreational space it once was. Thanks to the strong support provided by Councillor Mike Layton, this Working Group is now meeting regularly and is achieving some results.
The TRCA is now planning two work projects: (1) slope stabilization and erosion control work from just south of the St Clair bridge up to the cemetery, and (2) work to repair the rapidly accelerating erosion of the slope below the southern part of Summerhill Gardens.
Both work projects will require the construction of temporary roads and bridges to allow access by heavy equipment. Some paths may need to be temporarily closed. Updates concerning path closures and other news will be posted on this website as they become available. The SRA will be pressing for path improvements to be undertaken when the erosion control work occurs.
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RAVINE
In partnership with other neighbouring residents associations, the SRA has pressed for the installation of a traffic light where the ravine path down to the Brickworks crosses Mt Pleasant at Roxborough. We are now informed that the traffic light will be installed next year, along with reconstruction of the intersection to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
INVASIVES CONTROL IN THE RAVINE
As part of its work to remediate the ravine and restore its ecological integrity, the SRA has organized the formation of a consortium of the five residents associations bordering the Vale of Avoca ravine, now to be extended to include two more associations (Bennington Heights and Governors Bridge) bordering the Mud Creek ravine along the route of the former Belt Line railway that ran from the Brickworks up to the eastern portion of the Mt Pleasant cemetery.
The consortium is now in the process of being incorporated as a non-profit foundation that can raise private funds from donors to accomplish ecological restoration work on public lands in the ravines and work with private land owners to do the same on ravine land they own. The foundation will work with the Toronto Parks and Tree Foundation and other agencies to lever what it can accomplish. More news on this effort shortly.
The consortium is also working with the City to encourage the formation of a City-wide Ravine Conservancy that can attract private funds to remediate and improve the health of ravines throughout Toronto.
January 2019
Save our ravines, spread the word
Dear Residents' & Neighbourhood Associations,
A new year of ravine work has begun. If you have a minute, please help spread the word for the following event, Facebook page, and petition:
1. Please distribute the “Save Our Ravines” event widely to your contacts. See picture below for details.
2. Join the Facebook Page initiated by Councillor Colle. https://www.facebook.com/saveourravines/
3. Please sign the following petition initiated by PNTO (Protect Nature Toronto), initiated by Jason Ramsay-Brown.
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