Erosion West of Highland Creek Shoreline Protection Project

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Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), in conjunction with the City of Toronto, is undertaking a shoreline repair and long-term erosion mitigation project along a portion of Waterfront Trail between East Point Park and Port Union Waterfront Park.

The goal of this project is to develop long-term protection to protect the shoreline and Waterfront Trail from erosion.

The project will address immediate safety hazards due to erosion and ensure public safety along the Waterfront Trail in two phases:

  • Phase 1 focused on addressing immediate safety concerns by providing protection to the most critically eroded section of Waterfront Trail (Implementation: January 2023 – June 2023)
  • Phase 2 is implementing long-term protection for the remainder of the impacted trail by integrating into the existing shoreline protection to the east and west. (Implementation: October 2023 – June 2024)
Significant erosion along the Waterfront Trail
Figure 1: Significant erosion along the Waterfront Trail and the conditions of the trail as of fall 2022.

Project Location

The project area connects East Point Park and Port Union Waterfront Park along the north Lake Ontario shoreline in Scarborough, as seen below in Figure 2. It is located just east of the FJ Horgan Water Treatment Plant and is bounded by the Metrolinx rail corridor to the north and Lake Ontario to the south.

Map detailing the general Erosion West of Highland Creek Shoreline Protection Project area
Figure 2: Map detailing the general project area.

The site includes approximately 200 meters of the Waterfront Trail and is mainly comprised of beach shoreline and riparian area. The interim work focused on 75 meters of unprotected shoreline where the trail has been badly damaged, while the long-term work will focus on enhancing and extending from that critical area to provide long-term protection.

The approximate footprint of the interim work and the long-term work are shown in Figure 3.

Project Phases of the interim and long-term protection work for the Highland Creek Shoreline Protection Project
Figure 3: Project Phases of the interim and long-term protection work for this section of shoreline.

Scope of Work

TRCA has been working with a coastal engineer to complete long-term protection measure designs. These protection measures will aim to balance the need for erosion protection with maintaining public access to naturalized beaches.

Phase 1: Interim Work (Complete)

The interim work designs were completed in 2022 and work was implemented on site starting in January 2023. Interim work aimed to provide immediate protection to the shoreline from further erosion by raising the Waterfront Trail above the high-water mark. A stepped armourstone beach curb was placed along the raised portion of trail to provide a buffer from any wave or storm activity. Work was completed in May 2023 with a single day repaving occurring in June.

Phase 2: Long-term Work

Phase 2 will build on Phase 1 by installing permanent protection along the entire Project area shoreline. This work includes expanding the armourstone wall currently in place from Phase 1 work along the shoreline to protect the Waterfront Trail from erosion damage. In order to further bolster structural protection of the interim works, more stone will also be added in front of the south side of the wall installed during Phase 1.

Additionally, the existing trail in the project area will be removed and raised above the high-water mark to match the stretch of trail raised in Phase 1. After the trail is raised and the protective armourstone wall is installed on the south side, the north side of the trail will be filled in with topsoil and seeded to match the Phase 1 area. Suitable material excavated during Phase 2 will be used to bury base structural stone or placed in front of the trail to supplement the beach.

In order to complete this work, the Waterfront Trail between East Point Park and the Highland Creek bridge will be closed. Work is underway, and the Waterfront Trail will remain closed until work concludes in June 2024. Signage updating trail users on the closures will be posted, as well as updates on this site to inform the public on project progress.

Phase 2 work will protect shoreline and trail vulnerable to lake action, seen here. Source: TRCA, 2023
Phase 2 work will extend the armourstone wall installed during Phase 1 to protect the Waterfront Trail from erosion damage.

Construction Information

Construction for the interim repair work was completed in late May 2023. Long-term protection work began in October 2023 and concluded in June 2024.

Progress Updates

Phase 1: Interim Work

  • Detailed Designs (Complete)
  • Permits and Approvals (Complete)
  • Implementation (Complete)

Phase 2: Long Term Work

  • Detailed Designs (Complete)
  • Permits and Approvals (Complete)
  • Implementation (Complete)

June 28, 2024

Construction, paving and restoration has been completed and the site has been reopened for public use.

A newly paved trail visible on the left, next to the armourstone beach curb. A sand beach and Lake Ontario visible on the right.
Trail paving completed behind the armourstone Beach Curb. Source: TRCA, 2024.

June 5, 2024

Crews have been working to repair the damaged section of the wall in Phase I. Armourstones have been placed in the nearshore to act as a wave break during construction. These will be removed and integrated into the wall before the structure is completed. The trail has been prepared for paving, which is expected to begin in mid-June.

Stacked armourstone wall has been repaired and reinforced. A temporary breakwater wall of armourstones is visible in the water along the beach, and the partially paved trail is visible along the top of the wall.
A repaired portion of the damage section of Phase I. Source: TRCA, 2024.

May 1, 2024

Trail restoration is nearly complete, with paving scheduled for end of June.

Several storm events occurred in mid-April, 2024 resulting in damage to the Phase I section of the wall. Construction crews are currently working to address these deficiencies with expected completion by the end of June.

Trail visible at left side of photo, Lake Ontario on right, with the stacked armourstone wall between. Slumping in the interim section is visible in background close to water line.
Trail is currently under construction. Storm damage can be seen where the water line is near the structure. Source: TRCA, 2024.

March 25, 2024

Construction of the wall has been completed with the placement of the western stepped access formation. As the next step, the crew will focus on trail restoration.

Completed armourstone wall along the shore of a small Lake Ontario beach. A stepped access route made of armourstone is located at the west end of the structure and an excavator is visible in the background. Large woody material has been placed on the beach.
The wall is complete, with the stepped access point at the western limit. Source: TRCA, 2024.

March 14, 2024

Crews have begun placement of the final sections of the wall, which include the western limit and a stepped access formation.

Excavator placing stones as part of the stepped formation.
Placement of the armourstone steps on top of the lowest layer of the wall. Source: TRCA, 2024.

February 21, 2024

Placement of the wall continues along the shoreline, with approximately 30 m remaining.

Excavator located on beach placing the base layer of armourstones for a section of the shoreline wall.
Excavator placing the base layer of armourstone, preparing for placement of the upper tiers. Source: TRCA, 2024.

January 25, 2024

Placement of the wall continues, with approximately half of the Phase 2 component being completed.

Staff directing the excavator to place an armourstone on the top tier of the wall.
Construction of wall with all four tiers of armourstone visible. Source: TRCA, 2024.

January 10, 2024

Construction continues with placement of the base layer of armourstone in an excavated pit to anchor the structure.

Excavator on the beach with some armourstone ready to be placed. Staff are standing in an excavated pit to direct the excavator. Completed portions of the wall are visible in the background.
Placement of armourstone in an excavated pit to form the base layer of the wall. Source: TRCA, 2024.

December 11, 2023

Placement of armourstone continues to extend the wall along the shoreline.

The retaining wall under construction, with three tiers of armourstone visible. Lake Ontario is on the right and the trail and a hill are on the left.
Armourstone and rip rap placement continues along the shoreline. Source: TRCA, 2023.

November 10, 2023

A stepped access point has been installed at the eastern limit of the structure. A similar access point will be constructed at the western limit once that portion of the wall has been completed.

Top image - eastern limit of the retaining wall from the water line with the sand beach in front, and an excavator visible. The bottom image shows the same location with the addition of armourstone stairs and roundstone.
Before and after construction of the stepped access point at the eastern limit of the structure. Source: TRCA, 2023.

November 1, 2023

Site setup has been completed, including preparation of the staging area and tree removals. Armourstone has begun to be stockpiled at the shoreline to construct the stacked wall.

Project site with trail on the left and Lake Ontario on the right. The completed emergency works are visible in the background and new stockpiled armourstone is visible at the end of the completed structure.
Stockpiling of armourstone at the project site. Source: TRCA, 2023.

Contact Us

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

Whitney Brennan
Project Manager, Erosion Risk Management
Restoration & Infrastructure Division
whitney.brennan@trca.ca
(365) 566-3255