Our Programs for 2012:
Downsview Dells Community: An Action Program for Stormwater Control
Supported by: EcoAction (EcoAction)
Project time frame: 2010 to end of March, 2012.
Objectives of the project:
Variable stormwater flow is the most significant environmental problem within the Black Creek watershed and the root cause of many follow on problems such as erosion, siltation, poor water quality, loss of habitat (both aquatic and terrestrial), and degradation of habitat and property damage.
Damages to the environmental, local infrastructure and to public and private property will continue to occur within the Black Creek watershed as long as stormwater flow is uncontrolled. There is also an increasing level of public danger to individuals. The problem has steadily worsened over time as almost all available land in the City of Toronto and in the City of Vaughan continues to be developed.
This proposed series of projects is a combination of community education and community participation in public events aimed at reducing stormwater flow directly into the Black Creek.
Downsview Dells Park and the nearby communities has been selected as the target project area because it is central to the Black Creek watershed and because it is representative of so many other areas along the creek in terms of the existing problems and the potential to successfully apply multiple remedies.
Education programs will focus on identifying and highlighting the general problem of Stormwater to the community at large through a series of open house events, door-to-door campaigns, publication distribution and fun, outdoor 'nature' walks. By highlighting the problems and by providing information on local actions property owners can take to assist, we aim to increase participation in programs such as downspout diversions, property landscaping and large tree planting for increased canopy cover.
Community Participation projects will focus on projects to establish several small wetlands and/or infiltration buffers in specific locations within local city parks that would intercept stormwater flow from storm-sewer outfalls and local parking lot surfaces prior to entry into the primary Black Creek waterway. Community participation will include trash clean-ups in existing wetlands and terrestrial and aquatic plantings around newly constructed and existing green swales, infiltration strips and wetlands.
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Wildlife Habitat Structures for an Urban Watershed
Supported by: Earth Day Canada Community environment Fund 2012 and Sobeys.
Together with our cooperators, the general community, student and youth group volunteers, the BCCP will build and install an assortment of 200 wildlife habitat structures designed for native species of birds, bats, toads and solitary bees.
As we conduct these projects to build and install the structures the BCCP will educate the participants regarding the benefits of wildlife within their city and local environment and the integral role that wildlife plays in a health urban landscape.
We will also enlist the on-going participation of individuals and local community groups to take on monitoring programs in order to maintain through monitoring, repair and/or replacement of our habitat structures.
Other links: bird box & bird walk info on our website.
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