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GTA watersheds cited as under threat by Highway 413 | Canada's National Observer: Climate News

A new report warns of severe habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, water contamination and other serious impacts if the Ford government's proposed Highway 413 proceeds across three key watersheds.

Released by advocacy group Environmental Defence, the report is based on research from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), and underscores the importance of the Humber River, Etobicoke Creek and Credit River for sustaining optimal living conditions for area residents and diverse ecosystems.

“Everything in a watershed is connected,” said Rebecca Kolarich, water program manager at Environmental Defence and author of the report. Watersheds allow water from rivers, streams or rain to drain into larger bodies of water.

“Watersheds are like veins pumping blood to our hearts. They provide numerous benefits like flood prevention, clean water and habitat for species, while also helping mitigate climate change,” Kolarich said.

They are essential for supporting wildlife, maintaining water quality, providing recreational spaces, and boosting climate resilience, she added. 

The report warns Highway 413 would pave the way for urbanization and traffic that disrupts critical ecosystems and introduces harmful pollutants, such as chlorides from road salt into freshwater systems. The highway poses a threat to over 500 species of regional concern in these watersheds, including at least 65 species at risk, and increases the potential for flooding in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the report states.

Watersheds are key for the long-term survival of species and ecosystems in the GTA. “We can’t afford to put them, and by extension ourselves, at risk by allowing unnecessary development projects like Highway 413 to be built,” Kolarich said.

If constructed, Highway 413 will cut through 2,000 acres of farmland, cross 85 waterways, and pave over nearly 400 acres of protected Greenbelt land. The impact will be felt in 220 wetlands, destroying critical habitats and disrupting migration routes, food sources, and breeding grounds, severely affecting species like the redside dace minnow.  Restoration would be nearly impossible.

According to the report, chloride contamination levels are already rising in the three watersheds. The construction of Highway 413 would exacerbate this problem, turning freshwater habitats into toxic, salty environments. Humber River. Photo submitted by Environmental Defence.

“The highway would destroy natural areas that are home to these species, and once they're gone, we can't bring them back to their natural state,” Kolarich warns.

Ford rejects concerns about the project’s impact on species at risk. The provincial government claims Highway 413 is essential for expanding infrastructure in the Greater Golden Horseshoe to accommodate significant population growth in southern Ontario over the next 30 years. Investing in infrastructure is key to Ontario’s long-term economic strategy, with the highway expected to contribute up to $350 million in GDP annually during construction, the government suggests.

One of the most dangerous chemical runoffs from highways is chloride, a component of road salt used to de-ice roads in winter. It can harm human health, freshwater plants and animals, Kolarich said.

According to the report, chloride contamination levels are already rising in the three watersheds. The construction of Highway 413 would exacerbate this problem, turning freshwater habitats into toxic, salty environments.

Drinking water can also become unsafe if infrastructure, such as wells and pipes, corrode because of exposure to high levels of chloride. “Treating groundwater to remove chloride is extremely expensive,” Kolarich says.  “And it would be a burden for many municipalities. The smarter solution is to avoid building the highway in the first place.”

According to Kolarich, paving over natural areas like wetlands and forest with hard surfaces like roads and parking lots, disrupts the natural water filtration process and can lead to flooding. 

Natural areas absorb rainwater and prevent overflow. “We have seen the impacts that replacing natural areas with hard, impervious surfaces has, especially this past summer with the flooding in Toronto.”

The highway poses a threat to over 500 species of regional concern in these watersheds, including at least 65 species at risk, and increases the potential for flooding in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the report states. Map submitted by Environmental Defence.

Ontario has been paving over natural areas like wetlands for decades, leaving rainwater with nowhere to go, Kolarich told Canada’s National Observer. “Because Highway 413 is proposed to pave over natural rainwater-absorbing and water-filtering areas in each watershed, we can expect more frequent flooding in the coming years if the highway is built.”

Given the environmental risks posed by Highway 413, Kolarich and other environmental advocates want the project scrapped in favour of more sustainable transportation solutions. One alternative suggested in the report is to expand public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). By improving public transit, the region could reduce traffic congestion and lower greenhouse gas emissions without destroying natural habitats.

“The federal government has the legal authority to stop this highway,” Kolarich said. “They need to step in and re-designate Highway 413 for a new impact assessment, especially considering the threats to species at risk and the irreversible damage to our watersheds.”

District to single source winter road salt following unsatisfactory bids - Huntsville Doppler (doppleronline.ca)

To ensure it is prepared for this winter, the District will stick to the current suppliers of winter road salt despite its procurement policy, which requires that it go out to tender after renewing a contract with an existing supplier a maximum of five times.

Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works James Steele told District Council at its September meeting that a tender had gone out this summer. He said three of the four bids received were non-compliant, while a fourth bid was way over budget.

The District set aside $925,000 for winter control materials in 2024 and again in the 2025 draft budget. “This budget is used for supply of various winter control materials such as sand, pre-treatment liquids, rock salt and pretreated salt. Provision of rock salt and pre-treated salt make up approximately 68% of the budgeted amounts, which is equal to an annual budget of approximately $625,000,” according to Steele’s report to council. He said the bid received exceeded the budgeted amount by 27 per cent or $234,400.

He recommended proceeding with a single-source procurement for another year with the existing suppliers, K+S Windsor and Salt Ltd. and Compass Minerals, and initiating another procurement process in 2025. He said the one-year contract would have the same terms but unit prices will be adjusted based on a Consumer Prince Index (CPI) as of July 2024 estimated at 2.5%. Steele said the cost of the materials procured through the contract extension is estimated at $620,000.

“As you know road salt is a critical component of winter maintenance and we don’t want to be in a situation where we don’t have a bonafide vendor to start stockpiling preparation,” said Steele.

How to Improve Road Safety During Winter Storms | FeastMagazine (feast-magazine.co.uk)

Did you know that many car accidents occur on icy or snowy roads? Shocking right? Winter weather presents a significant challenge to road safety and leads to hazardous driving conditions such as icy roads, reduced visibility, and snow-covered pathways.

These conditions increase accident risk and make travel dangerous. But even in these conditions, we sometimes have to be on the road to go to work or access essential services. You must be well prepared for the challenging road ahead in such situations. Read along to learn how to improve road safety during winter storms.

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter Driving

Before hitting the road this winter, ensure your car is ready for the season. Start with your tires. Keep them properly inflated to maintain grip on the road. Cold weather can drop tire pressure. Also, inspect the tread and sidewalls for damage. Winter tires are smart as they offer better grip on snowy roads.

Next, check your car’s battery. Cold weather can strain it because cars need more power when it’s freezing. Have a mechanic check if your battery can handle low temperatures before winter starts. If you drive an electric vehicle, ensure the battery is charged well beyond your usual needs to keep you safe if you get stuck.

Replace old windshield wipers and use winter-grade windshield washer fluid for clear visibility. If you live in an area with harsh winters, consider heated wiper blades.

Make sure all lights work and check your brakes for wear and tear. Good lights help you see and be seen, while well-maintained brakes are essential for safe stopping on icy roads. You can prepare your car for winter driving challenges by taking these steps. Stay safe and drive carefully this season.

Winterizing Infrastructure

While individual drivers can stay safe by following the above tips, the local government must also ensure road safety during winter storms.

The authority must prioritize timely plowing and salting of roads. Salts, such as salt brine for roads, prevent ice from forming by lowering the water’s freezing point. They can also use sand or other abrasives to improve traction in extreme conditions.

Snow fences along roadways can control snow accumulation, especially in areas prone to heavy snowfall. They should also ensure road signs are visible even in low-light conditions.

Safe Driving Practices

Winter is the best time to show your riding skills. But be careful because taking risks can be dangerous. Drive at a reasonable speed. If you need to get somewhere quickly, leave early. Icy and snowy roads make control easier to lose. Driving slower gives you more time to react and reduces skidding risk.

Increase the following distance so you have enough time to stop in an emergency. Leave at least six to eight seconds of space between your car and the one in front. Avoid sudden movements to prevent skidding.

Use low beams when visibility is poor. High beams reflect snowflakes and make it harder to see. If your vehicle skids, steer in the direction you want the front wheels to move. Don’t slam on the brakes as this can worsen the skid.

Emergency Preparedness

Accidents and emergencies can happen even with the best preparations. It’s always good to have a plan. Tell someone about your travel plans, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If you’re late, they can inform the authorities.

Ensure you have an emergency kit with items like blankets, a flashlight, non-perishable food, water, a first aid kit, a shovel, and jumper cables. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid running out of fuel if you get stuck.

If you get stuck or stranded, stay in your vehicle until help comes. This will make finding a car easier for rescuers and keep you safe in bad weather.

Plan Your Route and Time

Check the weather forecast and road conditions before you leave. You should be aware of winter risks, such as avalanches, blizzards, and ice storms. Staying at home is better than having to apologize for them.

Delay your trip until conditions improve. Have a GPS and traffic app to notify you of real-time traffic updates on road conditions. Stick to the main roads because they are more likely to be plowed and treated with salt or sand. A shortcut might be the longest way home.

Winter storms are a significant risk to road safety. Avoid travelling unless necessary. Remember, how you drive and prepare is the key to safe winter driving.

Workers returning to Windsor Salt after warm winter idles plant | CBC News

One of the largest road salt producers in the Great Lakes region is restarting after the operation was idled in April because of a warm winter. 

About 80 percent of employees are returning to work at Windsor Salt, according to a company spokesperson in a statement. 

There were 150 people laid off when the operation was idled in April because of a reduced demand for salt. 

"The key factor to this decision has been unfavourable weather conditions leading to soft customer demand," said a spokesperson for Morton Salt at the time.

Morton Salt owns the operation that produces road salt and table salt.

A union spokesperson declined to comment on the restart of the mine which the company said started on August 12.

Earth's salt cycle is swinging out of balance, posing yet another “existential threat," study finds (msn.com)

It is not pleasant to imagine that human activity is making the planet uninhabitable, but we typically think of this in terms of greenhouse gases, rising sea levels or acidifying the oceans. We aren't typically concerned with how salty things are.

Yet a recent study published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment identifies a wealth of industrial activities from construction and agriculture to water and road treatment as making the planet Earth too salty — literally.

"There is a need to identify environmental limits and thresholds for salt ions and reduce salinization before planetary boundaries are exceeded, causing serious or irreversible damage across Earth systems," the study authors report, arriving at their conclusion following a systematic review of existing studies on Earth's natural salt cycle and how it has been accelerated by human activities.

They warn of an “existential threat”  that could lead to a problem known as freshwater salinization syndrome, or a condition in which traditionally un-salted water is suddenly filled with the stuff. Freshwater salinization syndrome can make the water uninhabitable to creatures that previously called it home and, similarly, render it unusable for human consumption.

“If you think of the planet as a living organism, when you accumulate so much salt it could affect the functioning of vital organs or ecosystems,” University of Maryland geology professor Sujay Kaushal, who holds a joint appointment in UMD’s Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, said in a press statement. “Removing salt from water is energy intensive and expensive, and the brine byproduct you end up with is saltier than ocean water and can’t be easily disposed of.”

This phenomenon was described by the authors as an "anthropogenic salt cycle" that is managing to supersede and hyper fuel nature's much slower salt cycle, during which salt ions are gradually brought to the surface by geological and hydrological processes. This is in stark contrast to humans forcing salts like calcium, potassium, magnesium and sulfate ions to the surface on a regular basis thanks to practices like mining and land development.

When most people think of salt, they tend to think of sodium chloride, the same stuff as table salt.

"But our work over the years has shown that we’ve disturbed other types of salts, including ones related to limestone, gypsum and calcium sulfate,” Kaushal said in the press statement. These salt ions are being dislodged in such large amounts that, according to the new study, human-caused salinization is affecting approximately 2.5 billion acres of soil around the world — an area roughly the size of the United States. And that only accounts for the land itself; salt ions also increased in rivers and streams over the last 50 years, which is consistent with global patterns in salt production and consumption.

“Twenty years ago, all we had were case studies. We could say surface waters were salty here in New York or in Baltimore’s drinking water supply,” study co-author Gene Likens, an ecologist at the University of Connecticut and the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, said in the press statement. “We now show that it’s a cycle — from the deep Earth to the atmosphere — that’s been significantly perturbed by human activities.”

When the study's authors refer to "planetary boundaries," they are utilizing a concept that has appeared in other academic literature. Earth has a number of physical limits that exist in terms of being able to support life, and scientists repeatedly warn that those planetary boundaries are in danger of being exceeded. A September study in the journal Science Advances demonstrated that humans are putting Earth in dangerous territory with six of its planetary boundaries. These include land system change, freshwater change, climate change, biosphere integrity, the flows of biological and geological chemicals and novel entities like plastics, pesticides and industrial chemicals.

"We can think of the Earth's resources as the currency that supports us," the study's lead author Dr. Katherine Richardson, professor in Biological Oceanography at the University of Copenhagen's Sustainability Science Centre told Salon at the time. "The planetary boundaries framework is like a bank statement — it tells us how much of various components (resources) of the Earth system we can allow ourselves to us without greatly increasing the risk that our activities will lead to dramatic and potentially irreversible changes in the overall environmental conditions we experience on Earth."

As humans continue to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, they trap heat and cause our planet to unnaturally warm. This is why a recent study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Ii global temperatures increase by at least 1 degree Celsius, temperatures will rise so much that billions of people will every year confront heat so intense their bodies will be unable to naturally cool themselves. This explains why climate change is such an important issue, but it's also far from the only one. Every resource we consume comes at a cost, and that include even simple things like salt.

LETTER: Like swimming in Lake Simcoe? Then we need to use less road salt - Innisfil News (innisfiltoday.ca)

Salt in freshwater can create multiple issues, says Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition executive director

Letter to the Editorabout 19 hours ago

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00:03:05

InnisfilToday welcomes letters to the editor at chris@innisfiltoday.ca or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). InnisfilToday received the following letter regarding the amount of salt entering the watershed and its implications on swimming.

The surest sign of a summer well-lived is a wet towel by the lake. What is not to love about summer swimming after Canada’s long winters when the water isn’t even wet? To preserve what we love will take some effort, but we know it’s worth it.

As you paddle, swim, fish and sail through your summer days, consider that despite winter being long over, winter road salt is still in our waters. Most people don’t know why this matters.

Combined with warmer waters, excess salt contributes to conditions favourable to the growth of algae. Freshwater fish cannot adapt to living in salt water, but more importantly, an increased salt concentration in water can influence the dynamics of food webs, including the tiny little aquatic critters that fish eat. 

Lake Simcoe is on an upward trend for road salt concentrations. Ontario’s 10-year report on Lake Simcoe says, “The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority have measured chloride since 1971 at Atherley Narrows (where the water flows out of Lake Simcoe to the north) and since 2000 at stations in the lake. Chloride concentrations have increased significantly at Atherley Narrows and averaged across the lake.

The lake-wide chloride concentration in 2012 was 44 mg/L, and in 2018 it was 52 mg/L...If this rate continues, Lake Simcoe will reach the chronic threshold level by 2058; the chronic threshold is the maximum concentration of chloride before constant exposure could affect sensitive aquatic life. This would be 11 years earlier than previously predicted due to a higher rate of increase.” 

This should be something we can fix, and indeed, it is. Right now, eight community and environmental groups from Sudbury to Niagara are campaigning together for change through the new Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition. The opportunity at the moment is for citizens to support Landscape Ontario’s Snow and Ice Sector Group discussions with the government for limited liability protection and Sector Best Management Practice. This proposed package of reforms would allow the sector to do a better job, using less salt.  Indeed, it’s the risk of slip-and-fall lawsuits that is largely responsible for the over-application of salt. 

While the community and environmental groups are aiming for increased protection for freshwater, we know a great opportunity when we see it. So, join the movement, and sign the petition to protect what matters.

Claire Malcolmson
Executive Director, Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition

Road salt usage down across Muskoka: Misko - Huntsville Doppler (doppleronline.ca)

A number of factors appear to have come together to reduce the amount of salt used on local roads throughout the winter months.

This week, Mark Misko, the District of Muskoka Director of Engineering and Transportation, put together a report on annual road salt usage that shows positive trends.

Misko indicated tonnages of road salt have trended downward over the past few years. He attributes the decline to significant operational changes and implementing incremental opportunities for improvement

“Work will continue to refine processes, procedures and investigating new technology as it becomes available in the market,” says Misko in his report.

Misko says District staff continue to work with the area municipalities to determine what additional methods and controls can be implemented.

“For example, Bracebridge has included directliquid application (DLA) as one of their treatment methods to reduce ice accumulation,” says Misko. “Gravenhurst, through a combined procurement effort, has included pre-treated salt within their sand stockpiles to assist in surface adhesion when applied.”

Miskoka says road sale salt usage fluctuates based on winter storm severity,  but implementing industry best practices has helped to reduce the amount of salt used on the road network.

In October of 2020 the Friends of the Muskoka Watershed (FOTW) published The Road Salt Threat to Muskoka Lakes, which revealed a correlation between chloride levels in some of Muskoka Lakes and their relative location with respect to major highways.

FOTW launched a testing program last year to look into the effects of road salt on local lakes. The group said once the data is gathered to determine how chloride enters the lakes, the next step is to find solutions and modifications which can involve the whole community.

In his report Misko maintains that rock salt continues to be an effective de-icer and is the most widely used product in North America due to its fast melting action and its ready availability in the area. Road salt is generally very effective from 0ºC to approximately -10ºC, he says. Its effectiveness is enhanced by frictional forces as well as surface temperatures. Alternatives to rock salt have been considered, however, all available options have their own unique pros and cons.

Reducing salt amounts for de-icing must be stepped up to protect groundwater: researcher - Turf & Rec (turfandrec.com)

Groundwater and lakes in Ontario are becoming saltier, and the need to reduce road salt use during the winter months is something that can’t wait, researchers from the University of Waterloo say.

Many landscape contractors who provide snow and ice services during the winter use salt to keep parking lots, driveways and sidewalks free of ice, but the downside is that salt is making its way into groundwater and surface water bodies. In surface water, increased salt levels leads to oxygen depletion.

Philippe Van Cappellen, a professor and researcher at the University of Waterloo, says municipalities must monitor their road sale use and strive to reduce amounts by 25 per cent over the next five years.

Some contractors have tried alternative forms of de-icing agents, including beet juice.

Having trouble finding road salt on the Avalon Peninsula? Here's why (yahoo.com)

Winter hasn't slipped away just yet, but some living on Newfoundland and Labrador's Avalon Peninsula have found it difficult to locate one of the season's hottest commodities — road salt.

The culprit? Tens of thousands of faulty road salt bags, says Morgan Winter, vice-president of Avalon Coal Salt and Oil.

The Bay Roberts company provides a lot of the province's salt, typically found at gas stations and grocery stores in large, bright orange bags.

This year, Winter says, he thought he had his business's inventory in the bag. But it turns out he was sandbagged by the company's manufacturer.

He says the company discovered in the fall that it had been supplied tens of thousands of faulty 10-kilogram bags. Winter estimates the faulty bags made up about 50 per cent of what the company ideally likes to have in its inventory.

When the company went back to its supplier, says Winter, it discovered the lead time to get new salt bags would be longer than anticipated. Although the company also sells five-kilogram and 20-kilogram salt bags, Winter says the 10-kilogram bags are their best seller.

Submitted by George Warford

"If I don't have a bag to put the salt in, that slows down everything," said Winter. "We pretty much sold through everything we had in inventory, I want to say, two or three weeks ago."

"We don't operate that way. Normally we would have a 50 to 75 per cent cushion on what we would sell."

For those on the hunt for salt, Winter says 20-kilogram salt bags may be available at large retailers and hardware stores, and he even suggests seeking salt from his competitors.

The best places to go for salt are large building centres like Home Hardware, Kent and Home Depot, he said, as salt is likely in low supply at many gas stations.

Winter looks at this year's supply shortage as a learning lesson, one that can help prevent future slip-ups.

"We will be pre-ordering in April, and I would think we'll start ordering a two years' worth of inventory at a time just to get ahead of this problem."

Salt has been mined in Windsor for more than 130 years. Will climate change shift that? | CBC News

Last week, the owner of a Windsor mine that produces road salt laid off 150 people. The company said warmer weather meant less demand for road salt, and thus they would be idling production.

So how might climate change impact the salt mining industry?

Peter Crank, an urban geographer, climatologist and professor at the University of Waterloo, says it's not time to panic just yet.

While it's challenging to predict the weather conditions of the next few winters, Crank says snowier winters than this one might be in store for southern Ontario.

Crank spoke with CBC Radio's Windsor Morning host Amy Dodge. Here is part of their conversation.

How would you classify the winter we just had? 

This past winter has been exceptionally warm here for us in southern Ontario. We haven't had quite as much snow as we typically tend to see here in this part of Canada.

What should we expect when it comes to winter weather because of the climate change in the years and the decades to come?

One of the things that makes this a really tricky question, particularly for us to answer, is that climate and weather aren't always perfectly in sync.

One of my colleagues back in the U.S., Marshall Shepherd, [says] climate is like our personality, but weather is like our mood. Maybe we're a really optimistic person. That doesn't necessarily mean that every single day we're going to walk into work or into our home and have a positive mentality. The weather is oftentimes like that. It changes much more quickly, whereas climate tends to be a bit more stable.

A long line of trucks waiting for a load of salt at the Ojibway Mine in Windsor, Ont. (Dale Molnar/CBC)

If we think about Ontario and our winters coming up in the next decades, we can certainly expect to see some warmer winters. But there also is a good chance that we'll see some colder winters that will have just as much snow as we used to have.

And what difference would warmer, less snowy weather make when it comes to how much salt is needed for city streets and highways?

So if we see a decrease in snow, then we might need less salt to make sure that our roads are safe within the city.

One of the challenges that we find here in southern Ontario is that if our temperatures warm, that means that the Great Lakes don't freeze over, which means that we could see lake effect snow for longer periods in the first half of the winter. And if they never freeze over, there's always a threat for lake effect. So that could result in us having more snow, even, as the climate warms.

I'm also wondering how this ties into the salt industry, at least for ice melting purposes. Do we expect the industry to decline?

This is [happening] not just with salt mining, but in a lot of different sectors within society. They're utilizing climate science to support decision making.

This, I think, is going to become a case-by-case basis, where economies, sectors and individual businesses are going to have to really start to talk more with climatologists, learning the specifics of their location as well as their sector within the economy to begin to make these decisions.

It may be something where, in the future we see climatologists and other climate change experts being either hired to be able to make these decisions.

Right now, it's hard to say what the future will look like in terms of the use of salt. But these are definitely things that companies are considering.

There's also been quite a bit of study about the harmful environmental effects of road salt. Might this be an upside of climate change if less is used?

We typically think of [climate change] in negative terms, and there certainly are a lot of negative impacts from climate change. 

However, that certainly could have benefits to our water quality here in southern Ontario, as well as potentially creating fewer potholes, which means we don't have to repair our roads as often. We may see longer growing seasons as well.

But we certainly cannot forget that there are still negative impacts and that there are lots of other places across the globe that are being more negatively impacted than here in Canada.