London Participating in City Nature Challenge – Join a Guided Hike at Fanshawe Conservation Area on April 30th (media release, April 26, 2023)
April 26, 2023 For Immediate Release London Participating in City Nature Challenge – Join a Guided Hike at Fanshawe Conservation Area on April 30th On April 30th, you can join an interpretive hike at Fanshawe Conservation Area as part of the 2023 City Nature Challenge. Environmental educators will guide participants through identifying plant and animal species using the iNaturalist app on their smartphones. “Guided hikes are a great way to [...]
London-Middlesex Children’s Water Festival Teaches Children about the Importance of Water (media release, April 25, 2023)
April 25, 2023 For Immediate Release Contact: Linda Smith Water Festival Coordinator Upper Thames River Conservation Authority 519-451-2800 ext. 224 [email protected] London-Middlesex Children’s Water Festival Teaches Children about the Importance of Water From May 9th to 12th, 4,000 students in Grades 2 to 5 will explore the world of water through hands-on activities as part of the London-Middlesex Children’s Water Festival at Fanshawe Conservation Area. The festival features more than [...]
30 Years of Work Protecting Ontario’s Endangered Turtles and Snakes in Jeopardy – Make this Earth Day Count (media release, April 18, 2023)
April 18, 2023 For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Gillingwater, Species at Risk Biologist Upper Thames River Conservation Authority [email protected] 519-495-0400 30 Years of Work Protecting Ontario’s Endangered Turtles and Snakes in Jeopardy – Make this Earth Day Count One of Canada’s longest-running, most successful reptile research and protection programs is at risk in the face of an ongoing funding shortfall. The Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) program [...]
A Wet Spring Floods into the Upper Thames River Watershed
A Wet Spring Floods into the Upper Thames River Watershed This spring, the Upper Thames River watershed experienced a drawn-out 10-year flood. A spring flood with this total runoff volume occurs approximately once every 10 years, or has about a 10% chance of occurring in any given year. This year, the spring freshet (i.e., flooding due to snowmelt and rain) spanned three weeks, with the UTRCA issuing eight [...]
Explore the Watershed Report Cards in an Interactive Map and StoryMap
Explore the Watershed Report Cards in an Interactive Map and StoryMap There are two new and exciting ways to explore the 2022 Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) produces report cards every five years to report on the environmental conditions in each of the 28 watersheds in the Upper Thames River watershed with a focus on surface water quality and forest [...]
Get Ready for Adventure—Conservation Areas Open on May 1st!
Get Ready for Adventure — Conservation Areas Open on May 1st! Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas (CAs) will be open from May 1st to Oct 15th, 2023. The possibilities for adventure are endless with hiking and biking trails, camping, fishing, boating, sports, picnic shelters, and special events. Fanshawe Conservation Area Fanshawe CA offers 24 km of hiking trails including the Lake Trail (20 km). As the name suggests, [...]
UTRCA Marks Earth Day
UTRCA Marks Earth Day The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) will be participating in several events this Earth Day on Saturday, April 22 including: Earthfest 2023 Celebrate, learn and connect through art, music, games and exploration. Hear from experts on everything from e-bikes to green bins, and so much more. The UTRCA will be setting up interactive and informational displays as part of the Earthfest Festival's WaterZone (situated at [...]
The Power of Trees!
The Power of Trees! It was no joke when Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff worked together with volunteers from Festival Hydro to hand out 300 trees to the public in Stratford on Saturday, April 1st (April Fools) for the Festival Hydro Tree Power Program. This partnership started in 2021 and has allowed Festival Hydro customers an affordable chance to get native hardwood trees for their property. The species of trees offered were as follows: maple, [...]
Meet our New Chair
Meet our New Chair At its Annual General Meeting, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) held elections for its 2023 Board including its new Chair, Mayor of Ingersoll, Brian Petrie. Brian was previously Vice Chair and answered some questions about his new role. How will you approach your new role as Board Chair? My approach will be towards ensuring the business of the Board is dealt with in an orderly manner [...]
River Safety Program Celebrates 25 Years!
River Safety Program Celebrates 25 Years! The River Safety Program, and its beloved characters, Splish and Splash, celebrate 25 years of raising awareness about being safe around water. Each year, Upper Thames River Conservation Area (UTRCA) Community Education staff present important water safety and water systems messages through a series of interactive activities. Throughout the years, this program has been adapted to reflect changing curriculum, class sizes, technology, and [...]