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Spotted: Paddling the Don

By Hamutal Dotan

20110502paddlingdon.jpg
SPOTTED BY: Torontoist Flickr pool contributor perspecticus.
WHERE: The Carlton Street bridge over the Don River.
WHEN: The morning of Sunday, May 1.
WHAT: Boating on the Don is not generally permitted, but once a year the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) opens up the river for an event aptly named Paddle the Don. Yesterday’s grey skies did not deter eager paddlers, who filled up the registration list well in advance, happy to take this one chance to get out on the water.

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Comments

  • tomwest

    Why isn't boating on the Don generally permitted?

  • http://twitter.com/perspecticus ben marans

    Thanks for featuring one of my photos, @Torontoist!

  • http://twitter.com/nigelwallis Nigel Wallis

    It is permitted, just too shallow most of the time. The TRCA floods the Don for the event from the dam at G Ross Lord park, and then it's deep enough for canoes / kayaks.

  • tomwest

    The article says it isn't permitted. You say it is. Who is right?

  • HamutalDotan

    I suspect we might be wrong. Just trying to verify, and will issue a correction if need be.

  • normanrockwellart

    I am not understanding. Is the water always too low and we can't canoe to protect our own safety… or… do the authorities just not want us on the water for whatever reason? Or both?

  • james_agnew

    Paddling on the don? That's a paddlin'

  • tyrannosaurus_rek

    If a low dam were built near the mouth of the Don it would be deep enough for use year-round, and could possibly be used for skating and hockey in the winter. Toronto really ought to do more to make the waterways and ravines accessible and attractive. Maybe that's something our next mayor can look into.

  • tomwest

    The downside of building a dam to raise water levels is that it could result in flooding issues.

  • tyrannosaurus_rek

    I'm not suggesting a dramatic rise in water levels. Something comparable to what you see in the photo at the top of the article, but year-round. Depending on the type of dam, water levels could be managed as needed.

  • http://twitter.com/nigelwallis Nigel Wallis

    One of the reasons why I think paddling is permitted is that it is relatively common on some other GTA rivers, water conditions permitting. The lower Humber (from King's Mill Park to the lake) is not only navigable but pretty popular all summer (whereas the upper Humber from Roundtree Mills to Crawford-Jones park is spring run-off only). Also, in spring run-off, the Credit is a very popular canoe or kayak trip from Cheltenham down to the lake (with some notable portages around low head dams, ice diversion structures and weirs) – the stretch from Streetsville to Erindale in particular, but also from the lake north to the golf course. See: http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/r… I don't see why the Don would be different.

    Another confounding factor is that I don't know if the City actually has authority over a navigable waterway.

    If someone does decide to paddle it, please keep in mind that there are two mandatory portages – one just above Taylor Creek and one north of Pottery Road. That said, without the extra volume from the dam release, I don't think it's very navigable above Riverdale unless you're determined to scratch & grind your way downstream. Have fun – and try the other rivers if the concept of urban paddling amuses.

  • http://twitter.com/nigelwallis Nigel Wallis

    One of the reasons why I think paddling is permitted is that it is relatively common on some other GTA rivers, water conditions permitting. The lower Humber (from King's Mill Park to the lake) is not only navigable but pretty popular all summer (whereas the upper Humber from Roundtree Mills to Crawford-Jones park is spring run-off only). Also, in spring run-off, the Credit is a very popular canoe or kayak trip from Cheltenham down to the lake (with some notable portages around low head dams, ice diversion structures and weirs) – the stretch from Streetsville to Erindale in particular, but also from the lake north to the golf course. See: http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/r… I don't see why the Don would be different.

    Another confounding factor is that I don't know if the City actually has authority over a navigable waterway.

    If someone does decide to paddle it, please keep in mind that there are two mandatory portages – one just above Taylor Creek and one north of Pottery Road. That said, without the extra volume from the dam release, I don't think it's very navigable above Riverdale unless you're determined to scratch & grind your way downstream. Have fun – and try the other rivers if the concept of urban paddling amuses.