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Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project Archive


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Rise of the New Don PIC

Wednesday January 27, 2010

Thank you to all who joined us for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project Public Presentation, Discussion and Drop-In on Wednesday January 27, 2010.

The purpose of the meeting was to:

  • Provide an overview of Waterfront Toronto's Lower Don Lands area to provide the context for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project Environmental Assessment (DMNP EA);
  • Provide an update on the DMNP EA;
  • Remind the public how this project started back in 1989, where we are now, and what more needs to be done to see the project proceed;
  • Identify the project benefits as it relates to the original Goal Statement developed during the Terms of Reference Stage;
  • Present the idealized Construction Phasing Strategy;
  • Summarize the potential effects that will occur during construction and their mitigation strategies;
  • Introduce the monitoring and adaptive management program; and
  • Identify "next steps".

Please click the links below to see the summary notes for the meeting:


Rise of the New Don & Lower Don Lands Plan PIC

Saturday May 9, 2009

Thank you to all who joined us for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project Public Presentation, Discussion and Drop-In on Saturday May 9, 2009.

The purpose of the meeting was to present and seek feedback on the preliminary concept design for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project.

Please click the link below to see the summary notes for the meeting:


Don Narrows Workshop

Saturday May 24, 2008

Thank you to all who joined us for Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project Don Narrows Workshop on Saturday May 24, 2008.

The purpose of the workshop was to identify opportunities for naturalization of the Don Narrows, as part of the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection (DMNP) EA.

Please click the link below to see the summary notes for the evening.


Public Presentation, Discussion and Drop-In

Saturday March 29, 2008

Thank you to all who joined us for the "Rise of the New Don" Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project Public Presentation, Discussion and Drop-In on Saturday March 29, 2008.

The purpose of the meeting was to share information and seek feedback on key aspects of the project, including background on the Lower Don Design Competition and the integration of the winning team's design into the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project EA. A preliminary preferred alternative was presented for public comment and feedback.

At the meeting, participants were asked the following questions:

  1. Are you generally comfortable with the approach taken to refine the EA alternatives? Why or why not?
  2. Are you generally comfortable with the preliminary preferred alternative for the EA and how it was chosen? Why or why not?
  3. What do you see as the two or three key issues and/or opportunities that need to be addressed in the next steps of the EA?
  4. Do you have any other advice for the TRCA or Waterfront Toronto?

Feedback on these questions is welcome. Please submit your comments no later then Monday, April 14th by email, fax or mail to:

Michelle Vanderwel
Toronto and Region Conservation
5 Shoreham Drive
Downsview, Ontario M3N 1S4
416-661-6600 ext. 5280
mvanderwel@trca.on.ca

Please click the link below to see the summary notes for the evening

Please click one of the links below to see the presentations made at the meeting:

Also, the display boards and display slide shows presented at the meeting are available for download. Please click on any of the links below


Public Forum #3 and Open House

Tuesday December 5, 2006

Thank you to all who joined us for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project Public Forum and Open House on Tuesday December 5, 2006.
The purpose of the meeting was to share information and seek feedback on key aspects of the project, including:

  • The long list of alternatives considered for redesigning the Don Mouth, and the 14 alternatives that passed the first technical screening;
  • The criteria that will be used to reduce the list of 14 alternatives to a list of approximately 5 for more detailed study; and
  • The progress being made on adjacent and related projects, including the Lower Don River West Remedial Flood Protection Project, the Don River Railway Bridge Extension and Bala Underpass, the Don River Park, and an international design competition that is being planned by the TWRC for Toronto's Lower Don Lands.

Click here to download the summary notes from the event.


Port Lands Boat Cruise and Site Walk at the Mouth of the Don River

October 14, 2006

Thank you to all who joined us at the mouth of the Don River on Saturday, October 14, 2006 for the interpretive site walk and boat cruise aboard the Island Princess. The primary purpose of the event was to generate public excitement by kicking-off the consultation component of the Environmental Assessment for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project with a hands-on, on the ground (and on the water) information tour within the project study area, in order to show first-hand the range of possibilities and challenges associated with the project. The event participants were also presented with information regarding the industrial and natural heritage of the area, and shown the range of adjacent projects that are currently underway or will be undertaken in the near future.

Click here to download the summary notes from the event.


Public Forum #2

January 10, 2006

A second public forum organized by Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA), on behalf of the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC), was held on January 10, 2006 to present the key elements of the draft Terms of Reference that will guide implementation of the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Environmental Assessment. Public feedback and advice related to the Terms of Reference has been received throughout 2005, and the January 10th meeting gave the public an opportunity to see how their perspectives are being considered and incorporated.

Summary notes for the meeting including appendices and presentation slides are available for download:


Community Working Session #3

September 7, 2005

The third community Working Session for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project took place on September 7, 2005. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an overview of why and how evaluation methods are used in an Environmental Assessment, to seek feedback on the proposed approaches for conducting evaluations and consulting with the public, and to obtain suggestions from the public regarding what additional information should be considered. Presentation slides are available below for download and summary notes for the meeting will be posted shortly. Additionally, please feel free to download the Community Working Session #3 Workbook to review and comment on the proposed approach.

Summary notes for the meeting including appendices and presentation slides are available for download:


Community Working Session #2

August 23, 2005

The second community Working Session for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project took place on August 23, 2005. The purpose of the meeting was to present the "Alternatives To" which have been identified, the framework for the identification of "Alternative Methods" and to obtain suggestions from the public regarding what additional information should be considered.

Summary notes for the meeting are available below for download.


Site Walk of the Mouth of the Don

July 26, 2005

The evening following Public Working Session #1, participants took part in an organized site walk around the mouth of the Don River. Experts were situated at eight stations along the walk. Discussion topics at each of the stops included fish and aquatic habitat; flora and fauna; flood protection; recreation; soil remediation at 480 Lakeshore Boulevard; infrastructure and other active planning studies; Commissioners Park; and river management issues.

Summary notes for the site walk including appendices and presentation materials are available below for download.


Community Working Session #1

July 25, 2005

The first community Working Session for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project took place on July 25, 2005. The purpose of the meeting was to provide a better understanding of the EA process; present information on the issues and studies the study team will be investigating and undertaking; to learn from the public what additional information should be considered and where this information could be obtained; and to seek feedback on those characteristics of the study area that are viewed as strengths and weaknesses.

Summary notes for the meeting are available for download.


Public Forum #1

June 23, 2005

The first public meeting for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project took place on June 23, 2005. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the project team and proposed workplan to the public, and seek feedback on key elements of the proposed approach.

Summary notes for the meeting including appendices and presentation slides are available for download.


Terms of Reference

Naturalizing the mouth of the Don River and providing flood protection to the Port Lands were identified as one of the top priorities for all three levels of government when they first announced the establishment of the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation in 2001. On August 17, 2006, planning for this work moved a significant step forward when Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA), the project lead, received approval for the Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference from the Ontario Ministry of Environment.

"The Terms of Reference set the parameters for the environmental work that is going to be done at the mouth of the Don River," said Adele Freeman, watershed director with TRCA. "Renaturalizing the river mouth is a complex endeavour, particularly since the Don is located in an area with a rich cultural heritage and is densely occupied by the roads, bridges, buildings, boats, trails and other infrastructure that is essential to making the city work."

A naturalized Don Mouth will enhance water and land habitat for natural species and create the potential to re-establish wetlands in the area that were lost 100 years ago. The project will also create flood barriers for the Port Lands area which has been identified as one of the greatest flood risks in downtown Toronto.

"Numerous groups have been working for years to restore the river mouth because the area has such great significance to the waterfront's revitalization. Located where three new important pieces of the city will come together - the East Bayfront, Port Lands, and West Don Lands communities, this project has the potential to create one of the jewels of Toronto's waterfront," said Freeman.

The Terms of Reference establish the scope and nature of the Environmental Assessment to be undertaken for the project. While TRCA's technical work will continue, several public forums will be held throughout the process to seek feedback and advice from stakeholders.

The revised Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Project in response to the formal review may be downloaded below. Please note that this is the final version, as approved August 17, 2006 by MOE. You may also download the supporting document to the ToR, the Stakeholder Consultation Report.