Bluffer’s Park Southwest Headland and Beach Major Maintenance

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is undertaking maintenance work on two existing shoreline erosion control structures in Bluffer’s Park.

The work will provide long-term protection against the hazards of shoreline erosion and address public safety concerns. TRCA completed maintenance of the beach structure in 2018 (Phase II) and are currently preparing to undertake maintenance on the headland structure (Phase III).

Project Location

The Project Area is located in Bluffer’s Park at the base of Brimley Road South on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the City of Toronto. The area of concern includes the southwest headland and adjacent beach located near Bluffer’s Park Marina.

Bluffer's Park Southwest Headland and Beach Major Maintenance Project Area.
Bluffer’s Park Southwest Headland and Beach Major Maintenance Project Area. Source: TRCA, 2017

Learn More About the Project


Project Background

Erosion control structures along the shoreline of Bluffer’s Park include a series of headlands, beaches, and revetments. The southwest headland and adjacent beach were constructed in the late 1970’s as part of the development of Bluffer’s Park. Over the past 45 years, these structures have deteriorated through the displacement of armourstone, the loss of beach material due to abrasion, the erosion of backshore material, wave overtopping, and ice effects. TRCA annual monitoring records show that the southwest headland and beach have been listed as in fair/poor condition and recommended for major maintenance since 2009.

Southwest Headland

In 2010, TRCA retained Shoreplan Engineering to undertake a Shoreline Conditions Review. The report revealed that the instability of the headland was likely caused by a combination of toe instability, lack of a consistent double layer placement of armourstone in various areas, lack of sufficient filter layering below the primary armourstone, oversteepened structure slope, and wave overtopping.

Bluffer's Park Headland
Condition of headland, showing displacement of stone material. Source: TRCA, 2017.
Beach

The beach has experienced significant erosion along its sandy backshore resulting in an oversteepened bank. The 2010 Shoreline Conditions Review attributed this erosion to a lack of coarse material to provide stability as well as a limited beach width to dissipate waves before reaching the back portion of the bank. In May of 2017, Lake Ontario experienced record high lake levels, impacting many areas of the shoreline and causing further erosion to occur along the backshore of the beach.

erosion on Bluffer's Park shoreline
Erosion along the backshore area of the beach. Source: TRCA, 2017.

Scope of Work

The goal of the project is to restore and enhance the original erosion protection capabilities of the headland and beach by repairing the structures.

The beach deficiencies were addressed with major maintenance work undertaken and completed in 2018. The beach was repaired by the addition of a large quantity of cobble stone, which extends into the lake. The cobbles provide dynamic protection by dissipating the wave energy and by allowing the wave action to naturally reshape the beach.

Condition of repaired cobble beach structure.
Condition of repaired cobble beach structure. Source: TRCA, 2022.

The headland will be repaired by adding another layer of armourstone over top of the existing structure. This will strengthen the structure to better allow it to absorb the energy of wave impacts.

Example of an armourstone headland in good repair. Source: TRCA, 2018.
Example of an armourstone headland in good repair. Source: TRCA, 2018.

Completed steps:

  • Construction of Phase I (Interim Repairs): Completed in December 2016
  • Construction of Phase II (Beach): Completed in October 2018

In progress:

  • Construction of Phase III (Headland): Commenced July 2023

Construction Information

Construction activities for Phase III (Headland implementation) commenced in July 2023. Construction is anticipated to continue through to Fall 2024.

Public Consultation

Construction Notices

To view the construction notices, follow the links below:

Notice of Construction (Phase II)

Notice of Construction (Phase III)

In accordance with Transport Canada’s Navigation Protection Program (NPP) notification requirements, the following public notice was published in the Scarborough Mirror on December 15, 2022:

Public Notice (Phase III)

Class Environmental Assessment

In 2017, TRCA initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA), planned in accordance with Conservation Ontario’s Class Environmental Assessment for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects (amended 2013). A Notice of Intent initiating the project was published in the Scarborough Mirror on October 26, 2017 and in the Bluffs Monitor on October 31, 2017.

As part of the Class EA process, TRCA retained Shoreplan Engineering to review existing conditions, complete a wave hindcasting analysis, and develop alternative concepts for the repair of the structures within the Project Area.

To assist with the evaluation of the alternative options and provide input into the planning and design process, a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) was formed. The CLC was an integral part of the Class EA process as it allowed community members the opportunity to participate in the evaluation of alternative options. A CLC meeting was held on December 7, 2017 where interested community members were invited to attend and comment on the presented preferred alternatives.

Through the Class EA process, the preferred solution for the headland was identified as the “Repair” option, which will include repair of the headland by filling existing voids with appropriate materials and capping the existing structure with a second layer of armourstone. The preferred alternative for the beach was identified as the “Cobble Beach with Optional Shoal” option, which will include recharging the beach with cobble material to create a stable beach profile; a shoal extending outward from the headland is recommended to help contain the beach.

Upon identifying the preferred solutions, TRCA completed an environmental analysis and has worked with partner organizations to inform the design process. TRCA has prepared a Class EA Project Plan which outlines the process utilized in selecting the preferred alternatives and evaluates the environmental impacts of the selected approach. A Notice of Completion was published in the Scarborough Mirror on May 3, 2018 inviting interested community members, as well as regulatory agencies, to review and comment on the Class EA Project Plan. No community or regulatory comments were received during this period.

The Class EA public documents can be read using the links below.

Class EA Project Plan 
Notice of Intent 
CLC Meeting #1
Notice of Completion 

Progress Updates

This section will be used to for construction progress updates for the headland (Phase III).

Update: February 23, 2024

  • 7,000 tonnes of 4-6 and 10,800 tonnes of 5-7 tonne armourstone material has been delivered to site in support of headland maintenance implementation
  • Approximately 190 metres of armourstone toe material has been placed to date

Excavator sitting atop pad constructed to place armourstone toe protection on the southern side of the headland. Source: TRCA, 2024.

Armourstone material stockpiled on site next to the Project Area. Source: TRCA, 2024.

Update: January 26, 2024

  • 6,000 tonnes of 4-6 and 10,800 tonnes of 5-7 tonne armourstone material has been delivered to site in support of headland maintenance implementation
  • Approximately 160 metres of armourstone toe material has been placed to date

Excavator working through icy conditions to continue to place headland protection armourstone. Source: TRCA, 2024.

Excavator placing submerged toe protection armourstone on the southern side of the headland. Source: TRCA, 2024.

Update: December 22, 2023

  • 3,100 tonnes of 4-6 and 10,800 tonnes of 5-7 tonne armourstone material has been delivered to site in support of headland maintenance implementation
  • Approximately 150 metres of armourstone toe material has been placed to date

Excavator placing submerged toe protection armourstone at the southwestern tip of the headland. Source: TRCA, 2023.

Loader delivering armourstone material to excavator for stockpiling next to the project area. Source: TRCA, 2023.

Update: November 24, 2023

  • 10,800 tonnes of 5-7 tonne armourstone material has been delivered in support of headland maintenance implementation
  • Approximately 105 metres of armourstone toe material has been placed to date according to the detailed designs

Excavator placing submerged toe protection armourstone at the southern tip of the headland. Source: TRCA, November 17, 2023.

Loader delivering 5-7 tonne armourstone material to the Project Area for placement. Source: TRCA, November 17, 2023.

Update: October 27, 2023

  • 8,000 tonnes of 5-7 tonne armourstone material has been delivered in support of headland maintenance implementation
  • Approximately 90 metres of armourstone toe material has been placed to date according to the detailed designs

Armourstone being delivered to the work area by a front end loader. Source: TRCA, October 20, 2023.

Excavators placing submerged armourstone for toe protection. Source: TRCA, October 20, 2023.

Update: September 29, 2023

  • 6,200 tonnes of 5-7 tonne armourstone material has been delivered in support of headland maintenance implementation
  • Approximately 75 metres of armourstone toe material has been placed to date according to the detailed designs

Excavators placing submerged toe protection armourstone at the south-eastern tip of the headland. Source: TRCA, September 29, 2023.

Excavators placing submerged toe protection armourstone material, view from shoreline. Source: TRCA, September 29, 2023.

Update: August 29, 2023

  • Armourstone material deliveries have commenced in support of headland maintenance implementation with 1,750 tonnes having been imported to date
  • Placement of armourstone is underway, with approximately 60 metres along the toe of the revetment currently installed

Construction progress along the east section of the headland. Source: TRCA, August 29, 2023.

Construction progress along the east section of the headland. Source: TRCA, August 25, 2023.

Update: July 14, 2023

  • TRCA construction crews began mobilization for Phase III (headland implementation)
  • The following construction activities were undertaken: established stockpile area, created access route, set up tree hoarding, completed required tree removals, installed ESC measures and perimeter fencing

Stockpile area and perimeter fencing in parking lot. Source: TRCA, July 14, 2023.

Installed tree hoarding and ESC measures along access route. Source: TRCA, July 10, 2023.

Update: October 8, 2018

  • Construction of the cobble beach (Phase II) is completed.
Completed cobble beach structure at near Bluffer's Park Marina. Source: TRCA, 2018
Completed cobble beach structure at near Bluffer’s Park Marina. Source: TRCA, 2018

Contact Us

The Planning Team is located at TRCA’s Boyd Field Centre in Vaughan:

Restoration and Infrastructure Division, Engineering Projects
9755 Canada Company Avenue
Vaughan, Ontario
L4H 0A3

For more information regarding this project, please contact Danielle Dellandrea, Project Manager:

Danielle Dellandrea, Project Manager 
Erosion Risk Management
Restoration & Infrastructure Division
danielle.dellandrea@trca.ca
416-786-5064