Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s Community Science Project comes to Stratford and Woodstock area (media release, July 9, 2021)

On July 14, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is working with local property owners to start a new Community Precipitation Monitoring Project.

The UTRCA is installing rain gauges for local property owners in Stratford and Hickson. The participants will measure and record daily precipitation using the online Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) platform. CoCoRaHS is a community based network of volunteers across North America who measure and map precipitation. The UTRCA plans to expand the project in 2022 based on the first pilot year.

Community science engages members of the public in collecting data, which can be used to increase scientific knowledge and inform decision making. The precipitation project is the UTRCA’s second community science initiative.

“We’re really excited to work with property owners and gather valuable insights about our watershed and the potential impacts of climate change,” said Erin Dolmage, Community Education Technician. “This project is a great way for volunteers to contribute to the health of the watershed.”

Funding for this community science project was provided by Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) Tech for Nature Grant. The RBC Tech for Nature grant is a multi-year commitment by the RBC Foundation to foster new ideas, technologies and partnerships focused on protecting our shared future.

Find out more about the UTRCA’s Community Precipitation Monitoring Project or watch our video about the project.

Contact: Erin Dolmage, Community Education Technician, or Emily Chandler, Communications and Research Assistant