York Region and the Town of Newmarket are celebrating after being recognized for restoring a creek bed that could have threatened nearby infrastructure.
The municipalities were awarded by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority with an award Oct. 9 for restoring a section of Western Creek degraded by erosion. The project, completed about a year ago, saw the municipalities stabilize the creek bed, plant more than 500 native trees and shrubs and improve water flow to ensure the creek remained stable and did not harm nearby sanitary sewer infrastructure.
It was a joint effort, Town of Newmarket manager of climate, environment and sustainability Craig Schritt said.
“All three of us came together to come up with the best solution to naturalize the area, provide extra benefits and make sure that the sanitary sewer was protected,” Schritt said.
The restoration applied to a 60-metre section of the creek behind the Tannery Mall in Newmarket. Located on Newmarket land, the project cost $681,000, funded through the York Region infrastructure protection program with in-kind work from Newmarket staff.
The work saw a channel dug up where the sanitary sewer runs parallel to the creek. The conservation authority identified the area as an issue, Schritt said.
“Over the years, there’s been enough erosion on that south bank. There was a risk that eventually, it could fail and sewage would be released into the watercourse,” he said.
The municipalities planted 566 native trees and shrubs as part of the project. The restored creek channel also has a mixture of pools, riffles and streambanks comprised of vegetated rock buttresses, according to the LSRCA.
“Vegetation is really beneficial from a watercourse restoration perspective, especially along the banks because the roots help tie the soil in place,” he said, adding that the vegetation “really helps naturalize this area but also provides that benefit of more stability.”
Ultimately, the project was a success, Schritt said. He added that staff has checked the area after major weather events since completion, with no issues detected.
The effort is in line with council priorities on sustainability, preparing for climate change and enhancing green space, Schritt said.
“Making sure this creek section was stabilized for increased stormwater flow, over time, helps improve the resilience of the area,” he said.
