Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), in partnership with the Town of Ajax, is undertaking a flood and erosion control project along the Ajax Waterfront.
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To complete this Project, TRCA will initiate a Class Environmental Assessment (EA), which provides the opportunity for input from the public and other stakeholders.
The goal of this project is to develop long-term flood and erosion mitigation measures to protect the Ajax Waterfront from impacts of shoreline erosion.
Explore the Project
PROPOSED SHORELINE PROTECTION CONCEPTS
Offshore Breakwater with Gaps
The Offshore Breakwater with Gaps (or ‘Offshore Breakwater’, for short) concept provides the most protection to the shoreline from erosion damage.
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- These structures are made of large stone built offshore, mostly underwater, with the top visible from the shore.
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- They protect the shoreline by slowing down waves so they do not reach land with as much force.
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- The erosion protection they provide does not change the shoreline itself and creates a calmer area between the breakwater and the shoreline for aquatic habitat or recreational use.
- The size of stone and complicated installation process makes the Offshore Breakwater with Gaps concept the most expensive of the three proposed along the Ajax Waterfront.
Cobble Boulder Beach
The Cobble Boulder Beach concept protects the shoreline from erosion by adding different sized stones to the shore.
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- Adding more stone to a sandy or already rocky shoreline keeps waves from pulling material out into the lake.
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- The Cobble Boulder Beach concept is recommended for several areas of the Ajax Waterfront shoreline.
- The concept is being developed so that in more vulnerable areas of the shoreline, more stone will be added to keep waves from damaging bluffs or park infrastructure. In less vulnerable areas, less stone can be used.
The benefits of a Cobble Boulder Beach concept are:
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- It uses a more “natural” approach to shoreline protection than a more intensely constructed large stone structure which would significantly change the look and feel of the shoreline.
- Some areas of the Ajax Waterfront already feature a natural cobble boulder beach; this concept would add to those areas and still allow park visitors to access the beach.
Drawbacks to the Cobble Boulder Beach are that it does not provide the same amount of protection from erosion as a traditional erosion control structure, and that finding stones to use can be difficult and may take time.
Shoreline Erosion Monitoring
In many areas of the Ajax Waterfront shoreline, erosion isn’t threatening important park buildings or trails, but is worth monitoring.
The Shoreline Erosion Monitoring concept is recommended across the entire shoreline, but is the only recommended concept for many lower-priority areas along the Ajax Waterfront. These areas will continue to erode, but the erosion can be managed by moving trails or benches.
TRCA uses multiple methods of measuring erosion to document how fast land is being lost. This can help decide when to move the trail in areas where only Shoreline Erosion Monitoring is recommended.
It can also be used to help decide which structure should be built first in areas where an Offshore Breakwater or Cobble Boulder Beach is recommended.
For areas where no work is recommended, such as the mouth of Duffins Creek or Paradise Beach, Shoreline Erosion Monitoring can help keep track of conditions for any other kinds of work that may be necessary.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Ajax Waterfront, bookended on the west by Duffins Creek and on the east by Carruthers Marsh, has been a natural buffer between Lake Ontario and local development for over 60 years.
Once agricultural land, the waterfront area now exists as public space with the Waterfront Trail, playgrounds, gardens, and the Ajax Water Supply Plant.
High water levels in 2017 and 2019 and a high wind event in 2018, compounded by natural erosion rates, have resulted in hazardous or potentially hazardous erosion in the area.
Previous Projects and Studies
The Town of Ajax has partnered with TRCA numerous times to complete waterfront improvement projects.
This includes wetland creation, vegetation planting, infrastructure repair and most recently the construction of a boardwalk connecting Rotary Park to Duffins Creek Bridge in 2021.
These projects addressed flooding and erosion concerns as well as improving public access to amenities along the waterfront.
Aerial views of the boardwalk at Duffins Creek. Source, TRCA, 2021
In addition to a history of work at the project site, TRCA is drawing upon knowledge obtained from previous studies undertaken for the Ajax Waterfront area:
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- Previous biological monitoring was completed by TRCA and has been updated as part of the Class EA process to reflect current environmental conditions and provide the most beneficial and environmentally responsible erosion management options along the shoreline.
- TRCA engineering studies conducted from 2007-2009 to assess nearshore water quality will inform the current project to ensure water quality is not impacted.
TRCA is also using information in the Lake Ontario Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), written in 2020, to structure erosion management plans moving forward.
The purpose of this report was to develop a shoreline management strategy to promote sustainable coastal development in the future through a process called Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).
Recommendations in the SMP will be considered during the planning and implementation process.
What is Integrated Coastal Zone Management?
ICZM balances the environmental, economic, social, cultural, and recreational objectives within the limits of the existing and predicted dynamic coastal ecosystem.
Ten general recommendations are included, which are applied to the entire shoreline. These include:
- Incorporating the effects of climate change
- Protecting sources of sediment and monitoring the effects of sediment transport
- Considering “hard armouring” of the shore as a last resort
- Nourishing artificial beaches
- Integrating this plan with neighbouring jurisdictions
STUDY AREA
TRCA and the Town of Ajax are focusing their efforts on the 5.7 km of shoreline along the Ajax Waterfront, following the Waterfront Trail.
The project area spans the Ajax waterfront from Frisco Road in the west to Ontoro Boulevard in the east, and is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
TRCA has identified several areas of focus where infrastructure, trails or public spaces are being or at risk of being negatively impacted by erosion.
A particular focus of the project will be on the bluffs along The Waterfront Trail, as areas of the shoreline have begun to encroach on the trail and are of increasing public concern.
Although natural erosion processes will be allowed to continue where safe, areas where erosion is potentially compromising the integrity of the trail or other critical infrastructure will be addressed.
It is important to maintain a natural shoreline where possible, and through the Class EA TRCA will evaluate the areas of focus in more detail.
In order to properly assess the shoreline, the Project Team divided the 5.7km Project Area into areas called “reaches”. Learn more about reaches below.
What is a Reach?
Since the Ajax Waterfront is almost 6km long, the Project Team divided the shoreline into 12 “reaches”. These reaches were determined by erosion rates, physical features, community uses, and environmental qualities.
By dividing up the shoreline into reaches based on these criteria, the Project Team could recommend erosion protection work best suited to current conditions.
Once the 12 shoreline reaches were established, each was evaluated based on 5 criteria and given a priority level to reflect how soon erosion would impact critical infrastructure along the shoreline, and which concept should be recommended.
EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR SHORELINE CONCEPTS
When deciding how to address erosion along the Ajax Waterfront, TRCA’s project team used five different categories to evaluate which concepts would be best suited to each shoreline reach. These categories are:
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- Environmental: the impact work could have on fish, wildlife or plants. If the area is environmentally sensitive, like a marsh.
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- Physical: the impact work could have on physical features like bluffs or beaches
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- Cultural: the impact work could have on how the community uses the Ajax Waterfront
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- Technical: how well the structure will combat erosion, and how easy or difficult doing work would be, depending on concept
- Cost: how much a concept would cost to install and maintain
A three-checkmark system is used to show the level of positive impact on the area. Zero checkmarks show the concept does not improve that category. Three checkmarks show significant positive impact in that category.
Priority levels were assigned through criteria outlined below:
| 0-10 Years | 10-40 Years | 40+ Years |
|---|---|---|
| High Priority | Medium Priority | Low Priority / No Concern |
| Rapid Erosion | Moderate Erosion | Low or No Erosion |
| Close to critical infrastructure | Longer term impacts to infrastructure | No or manageable impacts to infrastructure |
| Erosion poses a potential hazard to public | Erosion not an imminent hazard | Erosion may be future long-term hazard; not imminent |
You can view a summary of the reach-by-reach evaluation HERE.
If you have questions about evaluation criteria or rankings, or would like more details on the in-depth evaluation, please contact natasha.gibson@trca.ca.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Class EA Process and Public Consultation
The Project is being planned in accordance with Conservation Ontario’s Class Environmental Assessment for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects (amended 2013), which is the approved process for this type of undertaking.
As part of the Class EA, a study will be started to develop and explore a range of potential alternative solutions for the identified study areas.
Read a general overview of environmental assessments.
The Class EA process outlines the steps required to determine the preferred solution for addressing flood and erosion hazards while minimizing environmental impacts.
As part of the process, several alternative solutions are presented for a project and each alternative undergoes detailed technical evaluation as well as public review and consultation.
The goal of this review process is to identify a preferred solution that offers the best means to protect against flooding and erosion, while mitigating other impacts that may result from the project.
Scope of Work
The scope of work for the Class EA will include the development of several alternatives and the selection of a preferred alternative for each of the study areas included in the Project.
Following completion of the Class EA process outlined below, the Project will proceed to detailed design development and permitting for priority areas as funding availability allows.
The Class EA process guarantees opportunities for public and stakeholder participation throughout the planning stages of a project.
Public input is a fundamental part of the planning and design process for this Project and TRCA will be inviting members of the community to participate in this study through public and stakeholder engagement.
Project Timeline
TRCA will distribute the following notices throughout the Class EA process:
Notice of Intent: issued when the Project is initiated and includes invitation to the public to participate in the Project.
Advertising of public engagement events, including Public Information Centres (PICs).
Notice of Filing: issued when the study is completed and the ESR is submitted for 30-day review period to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
Notice of Project Approval: issued once the Environmental Study Report has been approved following 30-day review period indicating the Class EA planning process has been completed.
Information will be distributed through this website, social media, on-site signage, and digital mailing lists.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION DOCUMENTS
Class EA documents will be available for viewing here following publication.
Notice of Intent:
- Notice of Intent (published September 8, 2022)
Advertisements:
- PIC 1 Meeting Ad (published May 19, 2023)
- PIC 2 Meeting Ad (launched on social media in January 2024)
PROJECT UPDATES
December 9, 2022:
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting #1
The Project Team hosted a meeting to discuss the technical elements of draft concept designs with a Technical Advisory Committee formed as part of the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Process. TAC representatives have been selected from a range of technical disciplines from both the Town of Ajax and TRCA.
The goal of the meeting was to collect technical input on the draft conceptual designs that have been prepared by the Project Consultants as part of the planning process. Comments from the TAC will be incorporated into the final designs for the Ajax Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Project.
January 26, 2023:
Community Liaison Committee (CLC) Meeting #1
The Project Team hosted a meeting to discuss draft concept designs with a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) formed as part of the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Process. CLC representatives were invited from public stakeholders such as the Ajax Town Council, Mayors Office, and local community group representatives as well as the Project Team and Project Consultants.
The goal of the meeting was to collect feedback from community leaders on the draft conceptual designs that have been prepared by the Project Consultants as part of the planning process. Comments from the CLC will be incorporated into the final designs for the Ajax Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Project.
May 25, 2023:
Public Information Centre Meeting #1
The Project Team hosted a meeting to discuss preliminary concept designs with the public as part of the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Process. The meeting consisted of a presentation on Project elements led by the Senior Project Manager and the opportunity for the public to ask questions to the Senior Project Manager as well as a panel of representatives from TRCA, the Town of Ajax, and W.F. Baird and Associates.
The goal of the meeting was to collect feedback from community members on the preliminary conceptual designs that were prepared by the Project Consultants as part of the planning process. Comments from the PIC will be incorporated into the final designs for the Ajax Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Project.
October 4th, 2023:
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting #2
The Project Team hosted the second TAC meeting to discuss the refined concept designs with TAC representatives selected from a range of technical disciplines from both the Town of Ajax and TRCA.
The goal of the meeting was to collect technical input on the revisions made to conceptual designs after the first round of public consultation. Comments from the second TAC will be incorporated into the final designs for the Ajax Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Project.
November 14th, 2023:
Community Liaison Committee (CLC) Meeting #2
The Project Team hosted the second CLC meeting to discuss refined concept designs with representatives invited from the Town of Ajax, Ajax Town Council, Durham Region, and local community groups.
The goal of the meeting was to discuss conceptual revisions following the first round of public feedback and detailed evaluations. Comments from the second CLC will be incorporated into the final designs for the Ajax Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Project.
January 16, 2024:
Public Information Centre Meeting #2
The Project Team hosted the second Public Information Centre meeting to give the public the opportunity to learn about updated project elements following the first round of consultation. The meeting was hosted in-person at Rotary Park Pavilion where multi-media displays were available along with members of the Project Team from TRCA, W.F. Baird and Associates, and Town of Ajax to engage directly with attendees and answer questions. Attendees could address any questions or concerns in-person and were also provided with material to bring home to follow up at their leisure.
The goal of the meeting was to collect feedback from community members on the revised conceptual designs prepared by Project Consultants following the first round of public engagement as part of the planning process. Comments from the second PIC will be incorporated into the final designs for the Ajax Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Project.
PIC #2 Material links:
Introduction Video
Virtual Presentation
Information Centre Panels
CONTACT INFORMATION
Have questions?
Looking for more information?
Want to join the project mailing list?
Please contact:
Natasha Gibson, PMP
Senior Project Manager, Erosion Risk Management
Restoration & Infrastructure Division
natasha.gibson@trca.ca
(365) 566-2342
This study is being completed in coordination with the Town of Ajax.