What is POSEIDON? The health of the Great Lakes is increasingly threatened by harmful algal blooms, occurring in response to excess nutrients in the water and a warming climate. Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)'s Water Quality Specialist, Craig Irwin, was invited to a workshop that included the official launch of a new water quality portal called POSEIDON, designed to aid in understanding and mitigating the human impacts on [...]

2023 Field Surveying Team Measures Record Number of Elevation Points Our 2023 field survey team wrapped up the surveying season just in time for the holidays. Once again, they had a successful season collecting information on stream depth, shape, and bank heights while also measuring the size and shape of bridges and culverts across our watershed. They measured over 28,000 elevation points and surveyed around 280 bridges and 1,760 [...]

All About Oak Wilt  Oak Wilt is a vascular disease caused by the fungal pathogen Bretziella fagacearum. The first known case of Oak Wilt in Canada was confirmed in Niagara Falls in May 2023. Although all oak species are vulnerable, the red oak group (red, black, and pin) are most susceptible, frequently resulting in death within 2-12 months of infection. Species in the white oak group (burr, swamp white, [...]

Accessible Features on UTRCA Properties  The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) owns and/or manages more than 5,790 ha (14,300 ac) of land within the Upper Thames River watershed, spread across 40 properties.   The forests, wetlands, meadows, watercourses, and ponds within these properties are critically important for preserving and restoring the watershed’s ecological health, as well as providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature appreciation.  Westminster Ponds [...]

Shoreline Erosion Control at Pittock Conservation Area Have you seen boulders being placed along the shoreline of Pittock Reservoir? Those large rocks will help hold the land in place, preventing erosion and improving water quality. At the same time, when the water level rises in the spring, the rocks will create a more complex habitat, offering different niches and environmental conditions that support the varied needs of fish [...]