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The city of Toronto has been addressing the health of the river by introducing a variety of programs to tackle the damage done to it. In 1991, with the cooperation and participation of civic officials, the task force to Bring Back the Don was formed. Since its inception, its mandate has been to devise and implement ways to restore the river’s ecology. Unfortunately, when the Task Force was formed, Toronto faced a crippling economic recession that limited its effectiveness. Sixteen years have passed, and the need to address environmental concerns has become a more prominent issue. The city has a mandate to develop its urban infrastructure in harmony with the natural environment and has the money to make it happen. In 2005, the Downspout Disconnection program was introduced. In older sections of the city, downspouts poured runoff from roofs directly into the storm drain system. With the new program, homeowners were given rain barrels to connect to their downspouts. The rainwater they accumulated could be used to water their lawns and gardens. The city was able to address two problems with one solution. Less water from the municipal reservoir was needed for watering residential yards, and the rainwater that was used in its stead was allowed to trickle gradually to the Don River through natural seepage into lawns and gardens. In addition to the eaves-trough initiative, three major developments are being undertaken to improve the fate of the Don. The first, the West Don Lands project, will see $37 million committed to correct flood problems at the lower reaches of the river. The second phase will see the city divert and treat storm runoff. The last, most ambitious project, calls for $74 million to design, clean and rebuild a more natural mouth to the Don River. Restoration of North American Rivers Around the continent, a concerted effort is underway to undo the effects of pollution on rivers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency launched a program in 1997 in conjunction with the federal government called the American Heritage Rivers Program. Fourteen rivers have applied and received certification, each with its own unique circumstances and challenges. Restoration initiatives for the Mississippi River, the most important shipping route in North America, and the Rio Grande, a major irrigation source for agriculture, face the challenge of balancing environmental work with the rivers’ economic, cultural and recreational values. In the Northeast, the Detroit and Hudson rivers are undergoing large-scale projects similar to the one being undertaken on the Don. Marshlands are being reintroduced, and in the Detroit River, a successful sturgeon spawning bed has been constructed.
It may be hard to think of a major urban area as a watershed, but wherever there are cities, rain flows from rooftops, streets and parking lots into streams and rivers. Whether we live in the city or in the country, by taking an interest in our immediate environment, we can help reverse the adverse conditions we’re imposing on our watersheds and make them healthier ecosystems and more attractive places to paddle. The initiative we take can be small or large: anything from installing a rain barrel to organizing community cleanups. The biggest step in having an effect on our surroundings is the realization that everything we do, both good and bad, contributes to the health of our lakes and rivers. Coming Back to Life I stop paddling under the Queen Street Bridge and let the kayak drift. To my left, a plywood wall blocks my view. The wall encircles the West Don Lands project, the first major step in restoring the river. I continue to paddle, this time passing under the Gerard Street Bridge farther upriver. From here I look south, back at the straightened river and the traffic corridor on either side. This was where most of the flooding occurred, causing city planners to fix it as best they could, knowing little about the problems they would cause. Ahead of me, the natural features of the river return—its twists, its turns, its life. It is encouraging to think that in this once badly polluted water, life can and will return. There is every reason to believe the Don River can be restored and integrated into the city around it. Jason Hamilton is a film lighting technician from Toronto, Canada, who discovered kayaking on his first date with his wife, Sylvie, in 2001, and the two have been hooked ever since. He has been interested in the environment since his high school days and has keenly followed the progress of the Don for the last five years. What You Can Do There are many things you can do to improve the quality of the watershed you live in. Naturalize your yard. Native trees and plants provide habitat and food for birds and other wildlife. Control runoff of pollutants from your property. Reduce your use of fertilizer and eliminate your use of pesticides. In the winter, use sand or calcium magnesium acetate instead of rock salt to provide traction on icy driveways and walkways. Dispose of hazardous products correctly. Household chemicals harm fish and wildlife and contaminate water supplies if dumped into storm sewers or drains. Check with your local government services for disposal resources. Conserve water. There are many things you can do to save water each day. Low-volume flush toilets and shower heads are two examples. Use permeable material for walkways and driveways. Natural stones and gravel allow more seepage into the soil of the watershed, slowing the runoff from rain to river. Wash your car at a car wash. Water there is filtered and recycled, keeping harmful soaps and cleaning products out of the storm system. Install a rain barrel. Use rainwater accumulated from downspouts to water lawns and gardens during dry spells. Clean the waterways as you paddle. Carry a garbage bag with you in your kayak and collect litter for proper disposal. Plastics in particular are dangerous to wildlife. Every bit you take out does much more than improve the appearance of the shoreline. Watershed Initiatives http://www.americanrivers.org http://www.toronto.ca/don/things_you_can_do.htm http://nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp http://www.epa.gov/oswer/landrevitalization/whereyoulive.htm Preservation Organizations http://www.cooperativeconservation.gov http://www.friendsoftheriver.org http://www.chrs.ca http://www.epa.gov/rivers |
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