Surveyors Hit the Ground Running
Surveyors Hit the Ground Running Kenny Tomljenovic, July 2023 Flood modelling begins with the essential job of watercourse surveying. Each year, a team of Field Survey Assistants joins the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) from June to November to collect information about the shape of watercourses all over the Upper Thames River watershed. While waterbodies look flat from above, the ground beneath can be far from [...]
Patrolling London’s ESAs
Patrolling London's ESAs Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff designated as Provincial Offences Officers have been focusing their patrols on the City of London's Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs), enforcing rules and municipal by-laws as well as answering trail users’ questions and concerns. Over the last few years, UTRCA staff have noticed a large increase in trail users which has also meant an increase in by-law infractions. Common infractions include: dogs being off leash, biking on [...]
Heavy Rainfall in the Forecast (media release, July 12, 2023)
Heavy Rainfall in the Forecast (media release, July 12, 2023) Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is forecasting heavy rainfall this evening through to Thursday morning, with rainfall amounts of 30-50 mm and isolated amounts of up to 100 mm. ECCC has issued a Special Weather Statement for London, Middlesex County, and Oxford County. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) says the ground is already saturated from previous [...]
Environment and Climate Change Canada Issues Special Weather Statement (flood bulletin, July 12-15, 2023)
Environment and Climate Change Canada Issues Special Weather Statement (flood bulletin, July 12-15, 2023) WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – FLOOD OUTLOOK/WATER SAFETY Issued July 12, 2023 at 3:45 pm; Valid until July 15, 2023 Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a Special Weather Statement for London, Middlesex County, and Oxford County. ECCC is forecasting heavy rainfall this evening through to Thursday morning, with rainfall amounts of 30-50 mm and [...]
Environment Canada issues Rainfall Warnings – Streams and Rivers may see Localized Flooding (media release, July 2, 2023)
Environment Canada issues Rainfall Warnings - Streams and Rivers may see Localized Flooding (media release, July 2, 2023) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) encourages residents to be alert for changing water levels in local streams and rivers. Environment Canada issued Special Weather Statements and Rainfall Warnings this morning for large parts of Southwestern Ontario including the City of London as well as Middlesex, Oxford, and southern Perth [...]
Environment Canada Issues Rainfall Warning (flood bulletin, July 2-4, 2023)
Environment Canada Issues Rainfall Warning WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – FLOOD OUTLOOK/WATER SAFETY Issued July 2, 2023 at 1:30 pm, valid until July 4, 2023 Environment Canada issued Special Weather and Rainfall Warning statements this morning for large parts of Southwestern Ontario including Middlesex, Oxford, and southern Perth County, and the City of London. The statements call for widespread rain of 30 to 50mm, at times heavy, lasting into this evening [...]
Creating a Buzz with New Pollinator Factsheets
Creating a Buzz with New Pollinator Factsheets To meet the growing interest in, and concern about, our native insect pollinators, UTRCA staff have produced two colourful factsheets and a pull-up display. The first factsheet, Introducing Native Insect Pollinators, explains why these insects are essential to natural and agricultural ecosystems, the types of insects that do most of the pollinating, and how insects pollinate flowers. There is also information on [...]
Stratford All-Wheels Park LID Project
Stratford All-Wheels Park LID Project The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) partnered with the City of Stratford to implement an All-Wheels Park Low Impact Development (LID) Project to address an existing drainage issue in the city’s skate park. After a rainfall, sections of the park as well as the all-wheels ramps would be inaccessible due to the standing water caused by the rain. To address this, the LID project [...]
Improvements to Kains Woods ESA
Improvements to Kains Woods ESA In May, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff constructed a new boardwalk in Kains Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) off Shore Road in London. This was to reroute the existing managed trail around severe erosion that was causing the existing boardwalk to collapse. Staff had been monitoring the erosion for several years and, without the ability to bring in heavy machinery to restore [...]
Rollout of the 2022 Watershed Report Cards
Rollout of the 2022 Watershed Report Cards With the completion of the 2022 Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Watershed Report Cards in March, 2023, staff have been spreading the word far and wide about the findings. The launch began with a media release, with good uptake from local newspapers, radio stations and other platforms. Staff also conducted an interview on Rogers Cable’s show “What’s up Oxford.” Print copies [...]