Report finds that Highway 413 would contaminate streams and rivers within the Humber River, Etobicoke Creek, and the Credit River watersheds and destroy large areas of forest, meadow, river and wetland habitat. 

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – A new report released today, Concrete Consequences: How Highway 413 would put GTA watersheds at risk, highlights alarming findings about the proposed Highway 413, shedding light on its potential to cause severe and irreversible damage to three critical watersheds in the GTA: the Humber River, Etobicoke Creek, and Credit River watersheds. The report, written by Environmental Defence based on research from Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation, projects that building the highway will result in habitat destruction and fragmentation, increases in the amount of impervious surfaces and elevated concentrations of chloride in waterways due to increased road salting activity.

“Our watersheds are critical to the long term survival of key 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,” said Rebecca Kolarich, Water Program Manager, Environmental Defence.

Key Findings: 

  • Chloride contamination: Chloride levels are already trending upwards in all three watersheds. The construction of Highway 413 would exacerbate this issue, transforming freshwater habitats into toxic, salty waters, endangering species such as the critically endangered redside dace.
  • Habitat destruction: Highway 413 and accompanying development would destroy natural areas home to approximately 65 at risk species that live in the Credit River watershed.
  • Biodiversity loss: Highway 413 would cut through high-priority areas of habitat connectivity  in the Humber River and Etobicoke Creek watershed. These are areas critical to  preventing biodiversity loss.

Recommendations:

  • Cancel Highway 413: Address congestion on Highway 401 by subsidizing truck tolls on the underused Highway 407.
  • Enhance natural heritage systems: Implement policies for long-term protection of natural features, undertake native planting projects, and improve environmental monitoring and reporting.
  • Urban development within city boundaries: Build homes within existing urban areas, as there is sufficient land approved for development until 2040.
  • Invest in public transit: Redirect the estimated $10 billion cost of Highway 413 to improve public transit throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

“Highway 413 is an unnecessary and environmentally harmful project driven by the same destructive planning approach as the attack on the Greenbelt. All three watersheds are facing threats of urbanization and can’t afford to lose their remaining natural areas that provide critical services for surrounding communities and wildlife,” continued Kolarich.

The full report is available here.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information, please contact:

Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence
media@environmentaldefence.ca