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Historically, the Toronto waterfront was a rich mosaic of aquatic and terrestrial habitats, including bluffs and beaches, cobble reefs, estuaries and bays with productive marshes, wooded shorelines and meadows1. Clear water streams and broad rivers meandered through densely forested watersheds to Lake Ontario. Diverse communities of fish and wildlife lived in these habitats, which provided opportunities for shelter, food, spawning, nesting, over-wintering and migration.
Over the past 200 years, the pressures of colonization, port expansion, industry, transportation and recreation have changed this waterfront almost beyond recognition. With these changes came serious environmental degradation, to the extent that in 1987, the Toronto waterfront was included on the International Joint Commission's list of 42 Areas of Concern around the Great Lakes2.
In recent decades however, considerable work has been undertaken to begin the process of restoring natural habitats and improving water quality, with promising results as aquatic and terrestrial communities begin to show signs of recovery (see the 2001 progress report on implementation of the Toronto and Region Remedial Action Plan3.) At the same time, there has been renewed emphasis on increasing public access to the Lake, and ensuring that new development respects and enhances the special conditions and opportunities of the waterfront.
The desire to improve the waterfront has been enshrined in recent City of Toronto plans and policies, including its new Official Plan (2002)4, Natural Heritage Study (2001)5, and Central Waterfront Part 2 Plan (2003)6. The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation was established by the three levels of government in 2001 to oversee development of the downtown waterfront. Current projects include naturalization and flood protection for the Lower Don River, Portlands Preparation Project, Front Street Extension, Union Station Subway Platform Expansion, development of a Public Space Framework, and preparation of precinct plans7. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority's Lake Ontario Waterfront program includes a variety of shoreline management and parks projects8.
This aquatic habitat restoration strategy is intended to provide practical information to assist decision-makers, designers and regulatory agencies to ensure that implementation of all waterfront projects incorporates opportunities to improve aquatic habitats as an integral part of creating a more liveable waterfront for people as well as fish and wildlife.
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