UTRCA Hosts LID Workshop
UTRCA Hosts LID Workshop On October 18th, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) in collaboration with the University of Western Ontario Water Centre hosted a half day workshop on “Storm Water Management (SWM) Low Impact Development (LID) Operation and Maintenance” at the UTRCA Watershed Conservation Centre (WCC). Fifty six people attended the workshop which included staff from consulting engineering firms, municipalities, local conservation authorities, First Nations and graduate [...]
Groundwater Sampling is Underway with the Addition of Pesticides Sampling
Groundwater Sampling is Underway with the Addition of Pesticides Sampling October and November are very busy months for the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff who are out sampling groundwater throughout the watershed. This fall, 22 of the 28 Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) wells are being sampled. PGMN was developed in 2001 in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). The program was designed to [...]
Don’t Fear the Foam!
Don’t Fear the Foam! From time to time there is unsightly foam flowing down the river or accumulating along the shoreline in the Upper Thames River watershed. If you have every experienced this, you may have immediately thought this was some chemical flowing down the waterway. In a majority of situations, the foam is a natural phenomenon. What causes foam? Natural foam is composed of dissolved organic matter, specifically [...]
Savanna Restoration Project Update
Savanna Restoration Project Update A project to transition a stagnant pine stand next to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s Watershed Conservation Centre parking lot into a diverse pine-oak savanna and tallgrass prairie habitat is progressing nicely. The pine stand consisted of spindly 40-year-old pines that were planted too densely and had stagnant growth. Invasive plants such as Chinese Elm, Russian Olive, and buckthorn had spread throughout the [...]
Give Endangered Turtles a Chance at Survival this Giving Tuesday
Give Endangered Turtles a Chance at Survival this Giving Tuesday Protect Reptiles At Risk Southern Ontario’s native reptiles need your help now. They have been suffering drastic population declines due to many threats including poaching, climate change, predation, road traffic, and more. You can be a part of their recovery by supporting the conservation efforts of Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR)! SOARR is one [...]
River Safety Message Spreads Thanks to Enbridge Gas
River Safety Message Spreads Thanks to Enbridge Gas Many thanks to Enbridge Gas and the Fueling Futures Grant for their support of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s River Safety Education program. River Safety is an in-class program of hands-on, interactive activities designed to familiarize grade two students with the dangers associated with water bodies and, specifically, the river. The program also creates an awareness of the [...]
The Hows and Whys of Fall Leaf Colour Change
The Hows and Whys of Fall Leaf Colour Change October is the best month in the Thames watershed to go for a walk to see the fall colours in your local conservation area, park, or natural area. But why do the leaves of deciduous (non-evergreen) trees and shrubs change colour? It is a bit complicated, but, in a nutshell, as the sunlight hours shrink, chlorophyll production in the [...]
New Educational Programs and Events Coming Soon Thanks to TD Friends of the Environment
New Educational Programs and Events Coming Soon Thanks to TD Friends of the Environment Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff are thrilled to have received two grants from TD Friends of the Environment! Wildwood Community Education staff have received a grant for over $6,000 to develop and implement a pilot water systems program. This subject area was chosen for the grant due to inquiries from teachers about local [...]
Tree planting with the Métis Nation of Ontario
Tree Planting with the Métis Nation of Ontario On September 23, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) joined the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) in a community tree planting on UTRCA owned lands adjacent to Fanshawe Reservoir. The MNO planted 40 native trees including red oak, black cherry, sugar maple, black walnut, hackberry, red maple, and white pine. This planting marks the second year we have partnered with [...]
Field Botanists of Ontario Tour London Environmentally Significant Areas
Field Botanists of Ontario Tour London Environmentally Significant Areas Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s Vegetation Specialist, Brenda Gallagher, and Terrestrial Biologist, Cathy Quinlan, led botany walks on September 23rd. The walks took place in Westminster Ponds Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) and Meadowlily Woods ESA for members of the Field Botanists of Ontario (FBO). Participants, ranging from amateur to professional, came out to see and learn more about the [...]