My Summer with the UTRCA
My Summer with the UTRCA As a summer student in the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority's (UTRCA) Integrated Watershed Management Unit, I have been able to take part in several ongoing projects. Primarily, I collected water samples from reservoirs, streams, and rivers across the watershed for laboratory analysis under the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network program. This sampling provides valuable information regarding public and environmental health, early detection of [...]
Join the Community Precipitation Monitoring Project – It’s Easy! (media release, Aug. 20, 2024)
For Immediate Release August 20th, 2024 More Volunteers Needed for Community Precipitation Monitoring Project The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is looking for more volunteers to help with a Community Precipitation Monitoring Project, particularly those living near St. Marys (Wildwood Conservation Area) and the northern part of the watershed. The UTRCA provides the technology, equipment, and training to set volunteers up for success! How does the project work? First, [...]
Rain Causing Elevated Water Levels – Caution Advised Near all Watercourses (flood bulletin, August 17-19, 2024)
Rain Causing Elevated Water Levels – Caution Near all Watercourses Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety (2024 Flood Event 9, Bulletin 1) Issued August 17, 2024 at 11 am; valid until August 19, 2024 at 12:00 pm The slow moving low pressure system forecast by Environment Canada has arrived and delivered between 5 and 15 mm of rain across the Upper Thames Watershed yesterday. An additional 30 – 60 [...]
Conservation Authority Reminding Residents to be Cautious Near all Watercourses (media release, August 17, 2024)
Conservation Authority Reminding Residents to be Cautious Near all Watercourses Rain moved into the Upper Thames River watershed yesterday and will continue over the weekend. The watershed received between 5 and 15 mm of rain yesterday. Environment Canada has forecast an additional 30 to 60 mm today and Sunday with the potential of local thunderstorms increasing these amounts. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s (UTRCA) does not expect [...]
More rain brings higher flows in streams and rivers (media release, July 30, 2024)
More Rain brings Higher Flows in Streams and Rivers Rain moved across the Upper Thames River watershed today, with totals between 50 and 70 mm measured north of London to north of St. Marys. Lesser amounts fell east of London. Much of the rainwater will run off into ditches, streams and rivers, as the ground is still wet from rain received earlier this month and not able to absorb [...]
Watershed responding to today’s rain (flood bulletin, July 30 – August 2, 2024)
Watershed Responding to Today’s Rain Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety (2024 Flood Event 8, Bulletin 1) Issued July 30, 2024 at 6 pm; Valid until August 2, 2024 at 12 pm Rain moved across the Upper Thames River watershed today, with totals between 50 and 70 mm measured in the northern portion of the watershed (north of London to north of St. Marys). Lesser amounts fell in the [...]
Wet Week in July
Wet Week in July The Upper Thames River watershed has had an unusually wet July. On July 10, the remnants of Hurricane Beryl reached southwestern Ontario, dropping 40-90 mm of rain across the watershed. UTRCA staff operated the flood control dams at Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas to minimize downstream flooding by storing water in the reservoirs. At Fanshawe, the rising reservoir encroached on the campground. A few [...]
Wavyrayed Lampmussel Spotting!
Wavyrayed Lampmussel Spotting! While monitoring fish this July, we noticed something interesting on the river bottom: a Wavyrayed Lampmussel attempting to lure a bass! Freshwater mussels have an intriguing lifecycle which includes a larval stage that parasitizes (i.e. infests or lives on) fish. The larval mussel must attach to the gills of a specific fish species to attain nutrition and to hitch a ride upstream. This is where the [...]
Conservation Area Summer Events are Underway!
Conservation Area Summer Events are Underway! Community Education staff have hosted three events at Fanshawe Conservation Area (CA) so far this summer! The season was kicked off with a Bug Safari event where participants got to explore the meadow for all kinds of cool critters! Following the theme of bugs, on July 4th an evening Firefly Walk was held that had participants in awe while they walked down the [...]
Huron University College Scotiabank Scholars 2024
Huron University College Scotiabank Scholars 2024 Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Community Education staff partnered with Huron’s Scotiabank Scholars for a third year, offering an intensive high school English credit and breaking down barriers for students from across the watershed. This year, the theme was water. On the first day of the course, students visited Fanshawe Conservation Area where they learned about the UTRCA’s core missions and challenges. [...]