What is a Wetland? Over the last 150 years, many of our wetlands have been eliminated from natural landscapes, but recently, we have come to realize the importance of these essential habitats.   Wetlands have standing water at, near, or above the soil surface for part or all of the year. They provide many valuable ecosystem services, such as filtering out sediments and pollutants to improve water quality; acting like [...]

Only Rain Down the Drain  The 2023 spring season of Stream of Dreams is in full swing! Through this elementary school program, students learn about their local watershed, storm water management, and how to protect and conserve water. Often, they remember the catchy phrase: “only rain down the drain”.  This year, with support from the Thames Valley District School Board, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff have [...]

Handheld Unit Flow Readings   Field staff at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) regularly take streamflow readings at a number of sites in streams, creeks, and drains across the watershed. Streamflow refers to the volume of water that moves over a designated point over a fixed period of time.   This data is used to indicate hydrologic conditions, as well as the discharge amounts of a watershed. This helps [...]

Celebrating Natural Connections event at Fanshawe Conservation Area  On Family Day, February 20th, the Upper Thames River Conservation Area (UTRCA) hosted the final Celebrating Natural Connections (CNC) event at Fanshawe Conservation Area. It was a bright, sunny day, perfect for an outdoor winter event. The turnout was incredible, with an estimated 3,000 people in attendance.  Event visitors were kept busy, with over 20 activities to participate in, including:  Horse-drawn [...]