View source for Task Force to Bring Back the Don

{{Infobox organization
|name           = Task Force to Bring back the Don
|caption        =
|image          =
|size           =
|abbreviation   = TFBBD
|formation      = 1989
|dissolved      = 2010
|type           = Municipal advisory committee
|status         =
|purpose        = Environmental
|language       =
|headquarters   = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
|num_staff      = 1
|num_volunteers = 20
|website        =
}}
{{Don Valley}}
The '''Task Force to Bring Back the Don''' was a citizen advisory [[committee]] that advised the [[Toronto City Council|city council]] of [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada, on issues concerning the [[Don River (Toronto)|Don River]] and its [[Drainage basin|watershed]]. It consisted of up to 20 citizen members and 3 council members. It was formed in 1989 and disestablished in 2010.
==History==
On September 7, 1989, city council established the ''Interim Task Force on the Don River Clean-Up''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently asked questions about the Don River |url=http://www.toronto.ca/don/faq.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014707/http://www.toronto.ca/don/faq.htm |archivedate=June 7, 2011 |publisher=City of Toronto}}</ref> The impetus for the creation of the Task Force was a public meeting held 5 months earlier on April 1, 1989 at the [[Ontario Science Centre]] attended by about 500 people who were interested in cleaning up the Don. At the time the Don River was seriously neglected and polluted. At the same time, an article entitled "Rebirth of a River" was published in the ''Globe and Mail'' newspaper that detailed the current state of the river and its issues and challenges.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rebirth of a River |url=http://www.toronto.ca/don/pdf/rebirth_river.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014722/http://www.toronto.ca/don/pdf/rebirth_river.pdf |archivedate=June 7, 2011 |publisher=City of Toronto}}</ref>
In 1991, the Task Force published a book entitled ''Bringing Back the Don''. The book detailed visions for restoration of the Don Valley potential methods for doing so.
In addition to the advisory committee, the Task Force sponsored [[Restoration ecology|restoration]] projects. These included tree plantings and [[wetland]] restorations. In 1996 the Task Force launched a major wetland restoration project called the "Demonstration Wetland". It was later renamed "Chester Springs Marsh". Two basins were excavated adjacent to the river and these periodically flood with river water.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chester Springs Marsh: Creating Wetlands |url=http://www.harrington-hoyle.com/eco.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423090256/http://www.harrington-hoyle.com/eco.htm |archivedate=April 23, 2009 |publisher=Hoyle Ltd. Landscape Architects}}</ref>
The Task Force either created or enhanced four more wetlands in the Don Valley and another three in nearby tributary ravines.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wetlands are the best Lands |url=http://www.toronto.ca/don/wetlands.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014803/http://www.toronto.ca/don/wetlands.htm |archivedate=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
The Task Force advised the city on environment related issues including the sewer use bylaw,<ref>{{cite web |title=Chapter 681: Sewers |url=http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_681.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014825/http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_681.pdf |archivedate=June 7, 2011 |publisher=City of Toronto}}</ref> road salt reduction, [[snow dump site]]s, the Wet Weather Flow Master Plan,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=877807ceb6f8e310VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=972bab501d8ce310VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD |title=Wet Weather Flow Management Guidelines  |publisher=City of Toronto |date=2003}}</ref> and flood protection of the lower Don.<ref>{{cite web |title=Waterfront news releases |url=http://www.toronto.ca/waterfront/newsrel012706.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607015309/http://www.toronto.ca/waterfront/newsrel012706.htm |archivedate=June 7, 2011 |publisher=City of Toronto}}</ref>
The Task Force also sought to create a naturalized mouth for the Don River, which empties into a concrete lined harbour waterway called the [[Keating Channel]].
==Structure==
Members of the Task Force were appointed for a three-year term in parallel with the term of council at the time. One member was appointed as chair by the committee for the same three-year term. After 2001, the committee appointed a vice-chair who chaired meetings whenever the chair was unavailable or declared a conflict of interest during a point of discussion. Members were recruited through the city appointment process. The Task Force interviewed prospective members to ensure that they had an interest in the Don River and could participate in the goals of the committee.
The Task Force had three sub-committees called teams where individual members discussed issues in detail. The teams reported back to the Task Force once per month and tabled motions if necessary. The teams were Habitat Restoration; Policy & Planning; and Communications, Outreach, and Marketing.
The Task Force had the support of some city staff who were more or less dedicated to Task Force business. The city clerk's office assigned a person who sent out a printed agenda and took minutes during the monthly meetings. Another employee in the Planning Department assisted with editing the newsletter which was produced twice per year, website updates, and other Task Force material including educational material.
To support the Task Force's restoration initiatives, there was an employee in the city's [[Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division|Parks and Forestry]] department who was responsible for projects in the Lower Don. Originally the person was hired specifically for the Task Force but the position evolved to include other similar responsibilities.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
===Further reading===
*Bringing Back the Don. 1991. Task Force to Bring Back the Don. City of Toronto.
*Lower Don River Valley demonstration habitat wetland: environmental study report. 1995. Harrington and Hoyle.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110607015419/http://www.toronto.ca/don/pdf/annotated_bibliography.pdf  Selected bibliography at Urban Affairs Library, Metro Hall (archived)]
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110607081726/http://www.toronto.ca/don/ Task Force website (archived)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110309003216/http://vrl.tpl.toronto.on.ca/helpfile/ss_b0003.html Task Force Info Sheet at Toronto Public Library (archived)]
[[Category:Don River (Ontario)]]
[[Category:Municipal government of Toronto]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Toronto]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1989]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2010]]