Spring Tree Planting on Medway Creek
Spring Tree Planting on Medway Creek This spring, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) led three days of tree planting on the Medway Creek as a part of the Freshwater Enhancement of the Medway Watershed project, funded by the Canada Water Agency. With the help of over 200 Grade 7/8 students, over 750 trees were planted on the Medway Creek, including red maple, sugar maple, willows, white cedar, [...]
Spawning White Suckers in Medway Creek: A Springtime Spectacle
Spawning White Suckers in Medway Creek: A Springtime Spectacle On April 23, 2025, a local resident witnessed something truly special while walking along Fox Hollow Ravine—suckers during their annual spring spawning run in Medway Creek! Each spring, as water temperatures climb to approximately 10°C, adult White Suckers (Catostomus commersonii) begin migrating upstream to shallow, gravel-bottomed riffles to spawn. They're often joined by other suckers, including Redhorses: a group that [...]
Pesticides Sampling in the Upper Thames River Watershed
Pesticides Sampling in the Upper Thames River Watershed The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has recently begun a partnership with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), a branch of Health Canada. The PMRA is responsible for the regulation of pesticide products in Canada. It also assesses the risks to both human and environmental health associated with the use of pesticides. The UTRCA and PMRA partnership has initiated the Canadian [...]
London Participates in the City Nature Challenge
London Participates in the City Nature Challenge This spring from April 25 to 28, Londoners were out and about participating in London’s third annual City Nature Challenge! The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an international effort, encouraging people to find and document plants, animals, and fungi in their cities! Using iNaturalist, the CNC is a bioblitz-style competition, where cities are in friendly contest with each other to see who [...]
UTRCA at 3rd Annual EarthFest
UTRCA at 3rd Annual EarthFest On April 26th, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) celebrated Earth Day by participating in London’s third annual EarthFest celebration. Held at the London Public Library Centre Branch and Citi Plaza, the festival welcomed over 2,000 attendees who wandered through interactive displays set up by over 100 exhibitors and artists who shared local approaches to sustainability, ecological justice, and the protection and health of [...]
UTRCA running another Nature School PA Day (media release, May 14, 2025)
For Immediate Release May 14, 2025 UTRCA running another Nature School PA Day The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is running another Nature School PA Day on Friday, June 6th at the Stratford Perth Museum. UTRCA staff have once again partnered with the Stratford Perth Museum to create an entire day of outdoor fun for students aged 6 to ten years old. The PA Day will be hosted [...]
Perth Children’s Water Festival Making a Splash in St. Marys in 2025 (media release, May 6, 2025)
For Immediate Release May 6, 2025 Perth Children’s Water Festival Making a Splash in St. Marys in 2025 On May 25th, dive into the world of water at the Perth Children’s Water Festival at Milt Dunnell Field in St. Marys from 1-4pm. Children, youth, and the young-at-heart will enjoy interactive activities focused on water conservation, protection, and science. Highlights include live birds of prey shows by the Canadian Raptor Conservancy [...]
Discover, Play, Learn: Oxford Children’s Water Festival Family Night Returns to Pittock Conservation Area (media release, April 28, 2025)
For Immediate Release April 28, 2025 Discover, Play, Learn: Oxford Children’s Water Festival Family Night Returns to Pittock Conservation Area The Oxford Children’s Water Festival Family Night is back in Woodstock at Pittock Conservation Area from 5-8 pm on May 15th, 2025. This event is packed with exciting, hands-on activities to teach children and youth about the importance of water while having fun with friends and family. Event highlights include: [...]
You Can Help Reptiles at Risk this Earth Day (media release, April 17, 2025)
For Immediate Release April 17, 2025 You Can Help Make a Difference for Reptiles at Risk this Earth Day The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is celebrating Earth Day with exciting news about local conservation efforts that are helping turn the tide for some of Ontario’s most at-risk reptiles. In 2024, our Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) program had one of its most successful years yet. Thanks [...]
Heavy Rain Leads to High Water Levels Across Thames River Watershed
Heavy Rain Leads to High Water Levels Across Thames River Watershed Watercourses across the Upper Thames River watershed were on the rise in early April, thanks to heavy spring rain. With weather forecasts calling for up to 75 mm of rain on saturated ground, there was the potential for a significant flood event. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) issued a Water Conditions Statement - Flood Outlook on [...]