Popular UTRCA Park Pass Program Continues to Grow  The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s popular Library Park Pass program is underway for another year! The UTRCA has partnered with libraries throughout the watershed to provide day-use vehicle passes for their patrons. Library users can “check out” a day-use vehicle pass from their local library to be used over a three-day period. These passes will allow for day-use entry [...]

Local Student Wins Conservation Award at Thames Valley Science and Engineering Fair  This April, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Education staff helped judge the Thames Valley Science and Engineering Fair at Western University in London. For the past 10 + years, UTRCA staff in conjunction with the Lower Thames Valley and Kettle Creek Conservation Authorities have judged and presented the Conservation Award to a Junior Division (Grades 6-8) project that [...]

Wildwood and Pittock Dams - More than just Flood Control  If you are a regular visitor to Fanshawe, Wildwood, or Pittock Conservation Area, you may have seen one of the reservoirs being used for its flood control role - storing water to reduce downstream flooding. Did you know that Wildwood and Pittock Reservoirs have a second, equally important, role: increasing downstream flows in the summer and fall?  The Upper [...]

UTRCA Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program   Across the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) watershed, farmers and landowners are finding new ways to protect their soil, manage water, and sustain productivity for the long term. Supporting that work is at the objective of a new funding program: the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program.    What does this program offer? Funding towards establishing native grasslands or perennial cover, planting pollinator strips, shelterbelts and windbreaks to [...]

Tree Planting Season Kicks Off  The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has officially kicked off its 2026 tree planting season. With a strong lineup of funding programs, this year’s efforts are about more than putting trees in the ground - they’re about building healthier, more resilient landscapes for the future.  Across the watershed, nearly 28,000 trees and shrubs will be planted this spring. Of those, 16,500 will be planted directly by UTRCA [...]

Source Water Protection and Private Drinking Water Wells  On March 25, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) hosted a Landowner Workshop for local farmers focused on best management practices. The Thames-Sydenham Source Protection Region was also in attendance, providing water sampling bottles for private wells and sharing information on how landowners can help protect their drinking water at the source.  If you rely on a private well for [...]

Landowner Workshops Recap  The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Stewardship Team recently wrapped up two successful Landowner Workshops, bringing together farmers, landowners, and environmental partners.  In Thorndale, attendees gathered for our annual UTRCA Landowners Workshop, where the focus was on “stacking” best management practices and exploring both the environmental and economic benefits. Local voices led the way, grounding the discussion in real-world experience. Farmer and agronomist Curtis Gartly shared insights [...]

Bald Eagles  Handsome and regal, bald eagles are one of the most recognizable birds in the world. Over the centuries they have become a symbol of courage and strength. These majestic birds can often be spotted around Fanshawe Lake but there are many things you may not know about them.  In the late 20th century, bald eagles were on the brink of extirpation due to hunting, habitat loss and pesticide ingestion. Measures, such as banning the use of DDT (a pesticide that weakened their eggshells causing them to break easily) in [...]