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Staff Feature – Habitat Restoration / Stream Restoration

October 15, 2021

TRCA team members help to restore creek in Brampton

With incredible timing and skill, the Habitat Restoration (HARE) team has again accomplished a successful season within our rivers.

A section of the East Humber River within Boyd Conservation Park has had some significant bank erosion since 2017. As a result, there was a loss of fish habitat and damage to the adjacent roadway.

Dean Sterman, Dan Wise, and Rob Davis successfully stabilized and restored 130 m of stream bank and decommissioned and rerouted 18 m of roadway.

Works included installing woody structure (cribs) to stabilize eroding banks, removing foreign materials like concrete, and enhancing the existing riffle and pools by adding aggregate to improve spawning substrate and improve rest/cover areas. Staff also installed 3,000 bio stakes to further stabilize, shade, and increase natural cover.

TRCA team members perform stream restoration at Boyd Conservation Park
TRCA team members perform stream restoration at Boyd Conservation Park
TRCA team members perform stream restoration at Boyd Conservation Park

Working with our local farming community, Pete OConnell and Ryan Manfredi did a fantastic job installing a crossing on private property in Centreville Creek, Caledon.

The Patterson crossing allows livestock to cross without damaging a sensitive brook trout creek. 17 m of creek was restored, and a 12 m long culvert and approximately 75 m of farm fence was installed. The private landowners were very happy with the work completed.

TRCA team members construct livestock crossing on private land in Caledon to protect sensitive habitat
TRCA team members construct livestock crossing on private land in Caledon to protect sensitive habitat
TRCA team members construct livestock crossing on private land in Caledon to protect sensitive habitat

The Humber Station Road online pond decommissioning project was completed on the private property, working with private landowners, in the headwaters of the main Humber River in Caledon.

Pete OConnell, Ryan Manfredi, Scott Bolton, and Adrian GrubaWilk successfully installed a water control structure to dewater the pond, decommissioned the dam, and restored approximately 15 m of channel.

Once this project is completed there will be approximately 325 m of created channel and 1 ha of wetland restored in the footprint of the pond and dam area. The area will be planted this fall.

TRCA team members decomission dam to restore channel and wetland in Caledon
TRCA team members decomission dam to restore channel and wetland in Caledon
TRCA team members decomission dam to restore channel and wetland in Caledon

HARE has just begun the second phase of the Jefferson, Jordan, Jayfield Natural Channel and Eco park Restoration. We are proud to state that Phase 1 is complete, thanks to Ross Davison and Jake Thomas.

Staff did an outstanding job removing a significant amount of soil from the floodplain, removing approximately 500 m of degraded failing concrete-lined, straightened channel, and restoring 500 m of creek and floodplain, creating fish and wildlife habitat. As you can see below, wildlife are already enjoying the restored corridor!

In addition, three recreation nodes, one amphitheater, and an outdoor classroom were installed as part of Brampton’s first Eco park.

TRCA team members restore fish and wildlife habitat in Brampton
TRCA team members restore fish and wildlife habitat in Brampton
TRCA team members restore fish and wildlife habitat in Brampton