Context and Vision

The pond sits just west of Hwy 27 along the West Humber Trail and is quite large - about 8700m². It's estimated to have been built not long after the college opened to collect overflow stormwater from the Humber College North campus. By channeling excess water into the pond, some of the sediment swept up in the runoff would have a place to settle before clearer, calmer water moved into the West Humber River. The pond also served an important landmark for visitors entering the Humber Arboretum from the east.  

In the years since it was built, however, knowledge about how to build ponds and water systems to be sustainable has improved. During the same time period, water quality in the Humber Pond and associated wildlife habitats have steadily degraded. As a result, all three of the Humber Arboretum's partners - Humber College, TRCA, and City of Toronto's Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division - came together to turn a sustainability challenge into a solution by re-imagining the space as an outdoor classroom, living laboratory, and social gathering space, while simultaneously cleaning up the water quality and restoring native plants and wildlife habitat.

Overall, the Humber Pond Revitalization Project aims to:

• improve water quality
• reduce the adverse impacts of stormwater on the natural environment
• provide wildlife habitat in and around the pond
• remove existing invasive species and replace with native plants and wildflowers
• create social gathering spaces for exploration, learning, and enjoyment 
• provide new educational and applied research opportunities for Humber College students and Toronto-area schoolchildren

Phases and Timelines

Phase 1 (complete): 

Re-construction of the pond to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. This included the construction of the step pool conveyance channel, sediment forebay, shoreline restoration, and porous treatment berms. This phase began in the spring of 2019 and was completed mid-September 2019.

Phase 2 (in progress):

The construction of the treatment wetland, installation of trails and benches, final grading of the site, and planting of native trees and shrubs. 

Phase 3 (pending funding): 

Creation of an outdoor classroom and social gathering space on the pond's island (design anticipated to be created by the end of 2020 with construction beginning in 2021).

Replace the Outgoing Culvert (Complete)

In the spring of 2018 the City of Toronto replaced the culvert where the water flows from the pond out to the West Humber River and repaired the trail over the culvert. Although it was finished first, this area represents the last stop for pond water before it joins the river's flow, and may be used as a location for water testing to check for impacts of the project on water quality. 

Create a Step Pool Conveyance

Currently water enters the pond through a covered culvert. The new design will feature a series of descending pools that will slow water runoff and capture some sediment before it even reaches the pond. The pools will be open to the air and sun, creating additional habitat while offering a visually engaging feature - sort of like a natural water filtration waterfall. 

Add a Sediment Forebay

Once water does enter the pond at the bottom of the step pool conveyance, it will enter a deep settling basin. The basin will capture even more sediment, which will sink to the bottom of the basin leaving clearer water to join the pond's ecosystem.    

Regrade the Shoreline

More gently sloping shorelines around the pond will allow a variety of vegetation to take hold and create habitat for fish, mollusks, crayfish, and insects.

Plant Native Species

The newly constructed shorelines will be planted with species that are part of the natural ecosystem of the Carolinian bioregion and have relationships with local wildlife. This will include aquatic plants, native trees and shrubs, and meadow species. Wildlife will also be helped with the addition of shelter features such as logs and stones.

Create a Wetland

Part of the meadow beside the pond (known as “The Paddock” due to its history as part of Humber College’s old equine program) will be converted into a constructed wetland, which will naturally filter more water and further diversify the habitat.