Maintaining Toronto Harbour

Every day, Toronto Harbour faces a steady influx of sediment, debris, driftwood and other materials that can threaten navigation, water quality and shoreline infrastructure. For more than 100 years, the Toronto Port Authority has worked alongside the waterfront community to meet these challenges, helping keep the Port and Harbour clean, safe and resilient.

Dredging

Each year, sediment accumulates where the Don River flows into the Keating Channel, creating a flood risk if not removed. To help prevent flooding and keep debris from entering Toronto Harbour, the Toronto Port Authority dredges approximately 40,000 cubic metres of sediment annually. Using a crane-mounted clam bucket, dredged material is collected from the channel bed and transported by barge to the Leslie Street Spit, where it is safely contained in specially designed Confined Disposal Facilities (CDFs).

Harbour Clean-Up Program

Keeping Toronto Harbour clean and safe is a key priority for the Toronto Port Authority. Through its Harbour Clean-Up Program, the Port Authority removes approximately 68,000 tonnes (150 million pounds) of debris, driftwood, mud and silt from the harbour each year. In addition, specially trained staff are equipped to respond to environmental incidents, including oil spills, and work closely with the Harbour Master’s Office, the City of Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Spills Action Centre and port users to address environmental issues.