Spring Melt Begins this Week (media release, March 4, 2025)
Spring Melt Begins This Week March 4, 2025, for immediate release The spring melt is beginning, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) reminds residents to use extreme caution near all watercourses and to stay out of any flooded areas. The UTRCA’s snow survey data from across the watershed indicates the snowpack contains the equivalent of 75-110 mm of water. Temperatures are forecast to stay above freezing until [...]
Spring Melt Begins this Week (flood bulletin, March 4-7, 2025)
Spring Melt Begins This Week Flood Watch 2025 Flood Event 1, Bulletin 2 (Issued March 04, 2025, at 13:00; valid until March 07, 2025, at 14:00) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) collected watershed snow data on Friday, February 28. This data indicates an average of about 110 mm of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) and 30 cm of snow depth in the northern portion of the watershed, and 75 [...]
UTRCA running a Nature School PA Day (media release, April 1, 2025)
For Immediate Release April 1, 2025 UTRCA Bringing Nature School Experience to PA Day The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is running a Nature School PA Day on Friday, May 2 at Wildwood Conservation Area. UTRCA staff have partnered with the Stratford Perth Museum to create an entire day of outdoor fun for students aged 6 to ten years old. The day will be hosted at the Spruce Grove [...]
UTRCA Recognizes Local Teacher, Student Group, Volunteer Educator, and Landowners with 2025 Conservation Awards (media release, Feb. 28, 2025)
For Immediate Release February 28, 2025 UTRCA Recognizes Local Teacher, Student Group, Volunteer Educator, and Landowners with 2025 Conservation Awards The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) presented three Conservation Awards at their Annual General Meeting on February 25, 2025. Christine Ritsma, a teacher at Stratford District Secondary School (SDSS), and the school’s student-led Eco Club shared the Inspiration Award. Ritsma launched and continues to teach the Green Industries [...]
Spring Melt on the Horizon (flood bulletin, February 26 – March 5, 2025)
Spring Melt on the Horizon Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook 2025 Flood Event 1, Bulletin 1 (Issued February 26, 2025, at 3:30 pm; Valid until March 5, 2025, at 12:00 noon) The winter of 2025 has produced extensive snow cover in southwestern Ontario, without a thaw since December to reduce the snowpack. Above freezing temperature this week have caused some compaction of the snowpack, but minimal runoff. The [...]
P.A. Day Nature School Camp
P.A. Day Nature School Camp Wildwood Outdoor Education Centre and the Stratford Perth Museum hosted a wonderfully successful P.A. Day camp on January 31, 2025. 20 children from ages five to 12 attended the day hosted at the museum. The Wildwood team offered a morning of snowshoe skill-building, which included relay games and ended with a 30-minute hike through a beautiful wetland (and Low Impact Development project installed by the [...]
Funding still available for the Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program!
Funding Still Available for the Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program! The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has a new program aimed at reducing phosphorus in the watershed. The Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program supports landowners who implement agricultural best management practices that reduce phosphorus runoff, improve water quality in the Thames River and Lake Erie, while also boosting soil health and productivity on farms. The UTRCA is offering [...]
UTRCA Board of Directors Elections
UTRCA Board of Directors Elections The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Board of Directors held its annual elections at the January 28, 2025 Board meeting. Brian Petrie, Mayor of Ingersoll, stepped down after completing his two-year term. Den Trentowsky, Deputy Mayor of West Perth and Deputy Warden of Perth County, accepted the position of Chair having served as Vice-Chair since January, 2024. Other elections included: Vice Chair: Mark [...]
Updating the Southern Ontario Floral Inventory Analysis (SOFIA)
Updating the Southern Ontario Floral Inventory Analysis (SOFIA) Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff have updated a unique open-source macro-enabled Microsoft Excel spreadsheet called SOFIA (Southern Ontario Floral Inventory Analysis). SOFIA was written by biologist/ecologist Dan Lebedyk and other staff at the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) a few years ago. It was designed to allow botanists and ecologists to enter floral inventories of natural areas into a [...]
Tree Sales for Private Landowners – Order Before March 1st
Tree Sales for Private Landowners - Order Before March 1st Private landowners in the Upper Thames River watershed can now order and pay for their trees online at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s shop site. Open until March 1st, 2025, this digital format allows landowners to conveniently browse and purchase a variety of coniferous, deciduous trees and wildlife shrubs to plant next spring. As always landowners are [...]