Tackling Giant Hogweed: the UTRCA’s Ongoing Effort to Protect Local Ecosystems
Tackling Giant Hogweed: the UTRCA’s Ongoing Effort to Protect Local Ecosystems Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Lands and Facilities staff have been hard at work managing one of Ontario’s most dangerous invasive species: Giant Hogweed. This invasive species not only threatens native species by outcompeting them but poses serious health hazards to people and wildlife due to its toxic sap. This spring, we’ve dedicated over 120 hours of [...]
Local Landowners Lead the Way in Phosphorus Reduction Efforts
Local Landowners Lead the Way in Phosphorus Reduction Efforts With funding from the Canada Water Agency, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) launched the Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program in the fall of last year, to help reduce the amount of phosphorus reaching Lake Erie. While phosphorus enters the environment in many ways, one of the most challenging sources to manage is runoff from rain events, especially across [...]
Thames River Cleanup Wraps Up 2025
Thames River Cleanup Wraps Up 2025 On April 5th and 6th, the Thames River Cleanup held its 26th annual Earth Day cleanup. Over a thousand volunteers from across the watershed pitched in to clear tonnes of garbage and litter from along rivers, creeks, and green spaces. Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Partnership staff lead cleanups with the Friends of Medway Creek, Friends of Stoney Creek groups, and a [...]
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 [...]