As early as the 1880s, rural Ontario was facing a serious deforestation problem. By the late 1920s and 1930s, the combination of drought and deforestation was causing extensive soil loss and flooding across the province. Individuals and organizations united to call for a broad new initiative to deal with conservation, flood control and reforestation. The provincial government passed the Conservation Authorities Act in 1946 when several municipalities became involved.

Today, Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities are a model of conservation and resource management for other provinces and countries. Since 1946, the mandate of the Conservation Authorities has been defined in Section 20 of the Provincial Conservation Authorities Act: “to establish and undertake, in the area in which it has jurisdiction, a program designed to further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources other than gas, oil, coal and minerals.” (View Conservation Authorities Act)

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) was the sixth Authority formed in Ontario, being created by Order in Council on September 18, 1947. The UTRCA covers the upper watershed of the Thames River (see map), an area of 3,421 square kilometres. The watershed is mainly rural except for the larger urban centres of London, Stratford and Woodstock and has a total population of approximately 539,500. Agriculture is the main component of the landscape with approximately 3,600 farms, including over 2,000 livestock operations.

The watershed’s location in a highly developed part of southern Ontario results in pressures from urban and rural land uses. The water quality of the Thames and its tributaries is impacted by drainage practices, rural and urban runoff, spills, and bank alterations, among other activities. Much of the forest cover in the watershed has been cleared for agricultural fields or urban development. The forests have also been affected by invasive species and over-logging.

Despite these pressures, the Thames remains one of the most biologically diverse rivers in Canada. The river is home to over 90 species of fish and many Species At Risk including the spiny softshell turtle and the queen snake. The entire Thames River system (including tributaries) has been designated a Canadian Heritage River based on its rich cultural heritage and diverse recreational opportunities.