Yellow Creek (Toronto)

Much of the former reach of Yellow Creek was buried, starting from its source approximately around Sheppard West station, near Downsview airport. It followed a southeasterly course from there to just south of Rondale Boulevard.[4] Continuing south-east, it was fed by two small streams, one at Bathurst Heights and one near Briar Hill Avenue.[5]

The modern storm sewer main located near the confluence of the two former streams at Bathurst Heights and near Briar Hill Avenue is a major source of water for Yellow Creek.[5] At this portion, Yellow Creek is effectively a buried and channelled stream which flows south via the storm sewer under Chaplin Crescent, which then follows the path underneath beltline south east.[6] The buried creek crosses Yonge street south of the Davisville railyard into Mount Pleasant Cemetery and is further fed by water from the Yonge street storm sewers before emerging from the southern protrusion of the cemetery into the Vale of Avoca.[7][6][8]

The surface sections of the creek start at the Vale of Avoca, a deep ravine located in Deer Park.[8][9] It surfaces at the southern end of Mount Pleasant Cemetery, flows in a southeasterly course to the Park Drive Reservation Ravine,[10] and then towards the east until it empties into the Don River. The creek is buried twice in the two ravines.

In 2019, The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority identified Yellow Creek as a location which has become a public health concern due to erosion damaging pedestrian paths. Exposed rock retaining walls were removed and replaced with a more gently sloped creek bed which will be less prone to collapse due to erosion. These changes will ultimately allow Yellow Creek to flow without further maintenance and without unnecessary flooding.[15]