Volunteering with Invertebrate Identification
Volunteering with Invertebrate Identification A great way to stay involved with nature during the long winter months is volunteering with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) to identify the invertebrate creatures in the watershed. Every spring and early fall, invertebrate samples are collected from various locations along the river to help assess its overall river health. Samples collected in the field by trained staff are placed in ethanol [...]
Second Annual EarthFest a Success
Second Annual EarthFest a Success On April 22nd, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) celebrated Earth Day by participating in London’s second annual EarthFest celebration. Located at multiple downtown locations including the London Public Library Centre Branch, Citi Plaza, and along Dundas Place, the festival welcomed over 2,000 attendees who wandered through interactive displays. There were over 100 exhibitors and artists who shared local approaches to sustainability, ecological [...]
Meet our new Vice Chair
Meet our new Vice Chair At its Annual General Meeting, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) held elections for its 2023 Board including its new Vice Chair, Sandy Levin. Sandy is a familiar face to the UTRCA as he was Chair of the board in the past. He answered some questions about his role. How will you approach your new role as Board Vice Chair? My role is [...]
Fanshawe, Wildwood, and Pittock Conservation Areas Open for the Season (media release April 27, 2023)
Fanshawe, Wildwood, and Pittock Conservation Areas Open for the Season Fanshawe (London), Wildwood (St. Marys), and Pittock (Woodstock) Conservation Areas officially open on Monday, May 1st at 8:00 am. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority employs more than 70 full-time and seasonal staff at these beautiful parks with wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities close to home! Conservation Areas are a great option for all of your outdoor adventures. Whether you [...]
Fun for Everyone at the Children’s Water Festival Family Night at Fanshawe Conservation Area (media release, May 1, 2023)
May 1, 2023 For Immediate Release Contact: Linda Smith Water Festival Coordinator Upper Thames River Conservation Authority 519-451-2800 ext. 224 [email protected] Fun for Everyone at the Children’s Water Festival Family Night at Fanshawe Conservation Area The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority invites the public to Fanshawe Conservation Area (1424 Clarke Rd., London) on Thursday, May 11th from 5 pm - 8 pm to explore the importance of water through games, [...]
UTRCA Recognizes Mike and Ruth John with Stewardship Award (media release, April 28, 2023)
April 28, 2023 For Immediate Release UTRCA Recognizes Mike and Ruth John with Stewardship Award The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) recognized local residents Mike and Ruth John with the Kayla Berger Stewardship Award at the UTRCA Board of Directors meeting on April 25. The Kayla Berger Stewardship Award is presented to watershed residents with passion and understanding of the conservation needs in their area and a desire to [...]
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 [...]