UTRCA Website Updates
UTRCA Website Updates The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s (UTRCA’s) website has received some much needed updates over the last couple of years. The Parks, Recreation and Natural Areas section has been restructured to make the types of lands the Authority owns clearer. They include the three large multi-use Conservation Areas (Fanshawe, Pittock and Wildwood), smaller day-use Conservation Areas (CAs) and Tracts, as well as other UTRCA Lands (wetlands, floodplains, agricultural lands). Day-use CAs [...]
Thames Valley Trail Association Anniversary
Thames Valley Trail Association Anniversary The Thames Valley Trail Association (TVTA) will hold its 50th Anniversary Celebration at Fanshawe Conservation Area on September 23 and 24, 2023. Members will gather for hikes, keynote addresses, an Indigenous Water Blessing, and plenary discussions on such topics as invasive species, trail management, volunteer recruitment, extreme weather challenges and much more. On Saturday evening the TVTA invites everyone to their celebration gala dinner, [...]
O-Serves at Western University
O-Serves at Western University O-Serves is a special day during Western University's Orientation week that introduces first-year students to organizations and volunteer opportunities within the greater London community. This year, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) partnered with Antler River Rally and the Thames Talbot Land Trust to offer first-year engineering students an on-campus event that included a river cleanup and native pollinator planting. While some students tackled [...]
Tree Power returns to St. Marys! (media release, September 5, 2023)
Tree Power returns to St. Marys! The Town of St. Marys and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) have once again partnered on St. Marys Tree Power to make native hardwood trees available and affordable for residents of St. Marys! "We’re very pleased to bring this program back to our town this year as it was so well received in 2022," said Morgan Dykstra, Public Works and Planning [...]
Fullarton Dam Rehabilitation Class Environmental Assessment (Notice of Intent, September 1, 2023)
Fullarton Dam Rehabilitation Class Environmental Assessment Notice of Intent to Undertake a Remedial Project Fullarton Dam Rehabilitation The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority has initiated an Environmental Assessment for the Fullarton Dam, located in the Fullarton Conservation Area. A Dam Safety Assessment was completed in 2007 which identified spillway capacity issues and stability concerns. As a result the Environmental Assessment was initiated to assess the existing conditions and evaluate [...]
Tree Power returns to Perth South! (media release, August 30, 2023)
Tree Power returns to Perth South! The Municipality of Perth South and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) have once again partnered to make native hardwood trees available and affordable for residents. The Perth South Tree Power program launched in 2021 and has been extremely well received each year with trees selling quickly. Tree orders for this year will open online on September 5, [...]
10,000 Endangered Baby Turtles Released (media release, August 29, 2023)
August 29, 2023 For Immediate Release 10,000 Endangered Baby Turtles Released Snapping Turtle Hatchlings This year, approximately 10,000 endangered Ontario turtles will hatch in the Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) lab in London, Ontario. SOARR is one of Canada’s most successful reptile research and protection programs, incubating and releasing more endangered turtles than any other facility in the country. “This season has been one of our most [...]
An Exceptionally Wet July in the Watershed
An Exceptionally Wet July in the Watershed July 2023 was one of the wettest Julys on record in the Upper Thames River watershed. It proved challenging for Water Information Management staff to control flows and manage reservoir levels at and below the three flood control reservoirs at Pittock (Woodstock), Wildwood (St. Marys), and Fanshawe (London) Conservation Areas. Staff estimate that the North Thames River above the Forks watershed [...]
Mark Your Calendars for Tree Power!
Mark Your Calendars for Tree Power! Residents of Perth South and St. Marys are encouraged to mark their calendars for upcoming Tree Power programs. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has partnered with both municipalities to once again offer affordable trees to residents. Tree species that will be available include: Autumn Fantasy Maple Downy Serviceberry Native Red Maple Red Oak Sugar Maple Tulip Tree Tree sales [...]
UTRCA Library Park Pass Program Grows in Popularity
UTRCA Library Park Pass Program Grows in Popularity “Our community loves being able to borrow a free UTRCA Day Pass from their library. Demand for the passes continues to grow, with Londoners eager to explore these natural resources. It’s a great partnership for London Public Library,” shared Sarah Kasprzak, Integrated Library System Solutions Specialist with the London Public Library. Beginning in 2019, the UTRCA partnered with libraries in the [...]