Past tree planting efforts reaping rewards
Past Tree Planting Efforts Reaping Rewards There is a saying “The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, the second-best time is today.” Luckily, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and others have been planting trees on public and private land for well over 30 years and today we are reaping the benefits of past restoration efforts. The 2022 UTRCA Watershed Report Cards documented a [...]
Watershed Report Cards Shared Far and Wide
Watershed Report Cards Shared Far and Wide The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) released its 2022 Watershed Report Cards in early 2023. Since then, staff have been giving presentations to municipal committees, field naturalist clubs, municipal staff, anglers groups, partnership groups, university students, and stakeholders across the Upper Thames River watershed. The initial media release spurred interview requests from several local papers and media outlets as the report cards [...]
Wet Weather Expected – Caution Advised Around Watercourses (flood bulletin, January 8-15, 2024)
Wet Weather Expected – Caution Advised Around Watercourses Watershed Conditions Statement - Flood Outlook (Issued January 8, 2024; valid until January 15, 2024) A series of low-pressure systems are forecast to enter the province and slowly track across the region over the next five days. Weather forecasts are calling for 20 to 35 mm of rain, along with some snow, for the Upper Thames River watershed tomorrow (Tuesday) with more rain [...]
Water Levels Remain High (flood bulletin, December 30, 2023 – January 2, 2024)
Water Levels Remain High Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety (Issued December 30, 2023 at 2:40 pm; valid until January 2, 2024) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is reminding residents that although water levels are dropping, they remain high in all watercourses. With the holiday break in progress, parents and caregivers are asked to keep children and pets away from all watercourses. Banks adjacent to rivers, creeks, and [...]
Conservation Authority Issues Safety Reminder: Stay Away from Watercourses (media release, December 28, 2023)
Conservation Authority Issues Safety Reminder: Stay Away from Watercourses The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) reminds the public to exercise extreme caution and stay away from all watercourses and water bodies following the recent rainfall events. With schools closed over the holiday period, caregivers are reminded to keep children and pets away from watercourses. Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery and, when combined with cold, [...]
Conservation Authority Urges Caution around Watercourses (flood bulletin, December 28-30, 2023)
Conservation Authority Urges Caution around Watercourses Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety (Issued December 28, 2023 at 8:30 am; valid until December 30, 2023) The Upper Thames River watershed received between 25 and 35 mm of rain across the watershed on Wednesday. The ground is fairly saturated and the potential for runoff is increased. Creeks are responding, and currently flowing near bank-full, with peaks expected today. Based on the [...]
How to Build a Snake Hibernaculum
How to Build a Snake Hibernaculum Snake hibernacula are underground chambers where snakes can spend the cold winter months. As natural hibernation sites become more difficult to find due to urban expansion and other disturbances, constructed hibernacula provide safe spaces for snakes to find refuge. This fall, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff built a snake hibernaculum at Snake Woods Nature Preserve in Oxford County. The [...]
Black Redhorse Reappears in Fish Creek
Black Redhorse Reappears in Fish Creek This summer brought an exhilarating find: the reappearance of the Black Redhorse, Moxostoma duquesnei, a Threatened Species at Risk fish, in the waters of Fish Creek! This species of sucker, found in only a few rivers in Canada, had not been recorded in the Fish Creek subwatershed in over two decades. This discovery signals successful local conservation efforts. Imagine encountering a stunning [...]
Staying Active at Our CAs this Winter
Staying Active at Our Conservation Areas this Winter While the camping and extended day-use seasons have come to an end, there are still plenty of opportunities to stay active at Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Conservation Areas (CAs) this winter, during daylight hours. The dam crossing at Pittock CA is closed to pedestrian traffic as of December 8th. However, the trails on both the North and South Shore [...]
Thamesford Lions River Park: Viewing Areas, Angling Access, and Streambank Naturalization
Thamesford Lions River Park: Viewing Areas, Angling Access, and Streambank Naturalization Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff from Community Partnerships and Integrated Watershed Management units have been working with the Thamesford Lions Club and the Township of Zorra on a design for River Park in Thamesford that includes the construction of a naturalized buffer zone along the banks of the river as well as multiple viewing areas. Currently, foot [...]