Responding to the First Snowmelt and Rain Event of 2023 "We have measurements of how much snow is on the ground at locations across the watershed. We also know the amount of the rain that is forecasted for the region and the general conditions of the ground. In the winter months, the ground is usually frozen or saturated,” says Mark Helsten, Senior Water Resources Engineer at the Upper Thames [...]

Local Landowner Donates 5 Acres of Land to the UTRCA  (Published Jan. 2023) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has received a generous 2.02 hectare (5 acre) donation from Ron Anderson, who inherited the land in Dorchester Swamp from his father, John, and his grandmother, Helen.  The small lots in Dorchester Swamp were created in the 19th century to sell to local farmers to provide them with access [...]

Tree Sales and Stewardship Project Planning Underway  The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has a long history of tree planting and sales through the region, having helped plant and distribute nearly 10 million trees since 1949.  Landowners who reside in the  watershed and own a minimum of 1 hectare (2.5 acres) are eligible to participate in the UTRCA’s Tree Planting on Private Lands program. Trees purchased through this [...]

UTRCA Biologist receives Conservation Award  Cathy Quinlan, Terrestrial Biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), was recognized with a Conservation Award from Nature London in recognition of her substantial and long-standing contribution over 20 years to the Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT).   Cathy has acted as the Trust’s Chair of the Land Securement Committee (LSC) since 2009. She is described as the “conductor of the LSC orchestra”, acknowledging [...]

Maintaining Safe Trails along Snake Creek in an Environmentally Significant Area  Snake Creek is located just south of the Museum of Ontario Archeology in the Medway Valley Heritage Forest, one of London’s Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs). A trail winds along the creek, enabling community members can enjoy its natural beauty. Unfortunately, the integrity of the trail suffers from erosion, fallen trees, and other challenges. As the City of London funds [...]

Protecting Drinking Water: It's the Season for Salt! This winter, Conservation Ontario (CO) along with local source protection authorities and regions, have launched a 15-week public information campaign about how to Salt Responsibly.   New education tools include social media posts and an online mapping application about the impacts of road salt across Ontario. In addition, a Salt Responsibly Sticker campaign was developed by CO and a small working group. [...]

GIS Day 2022 at Western University  Last November, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) participated in Western University’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day at the Western Libraries’ Open House event.   The day brought students, colleagues, and community leaders together to showcase the latest in GIS products and applications. UTRCA staff brought its interactive Augmented Reality Sandbox to teach attendees about the influence of topography on water flow across [...]

Fanshawe Conservation Area Hosts City of London Marine Interoperability Exercise  In late 2022, Fanshawe Conservation Area (CA) once again played host for the annual Marine Interoperability Training Exercise. The exercise had participants and observers from London Police Services, London Fire Department, Middlesex London Paramedic Service, HMCS Prevost, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, London Search and Rescue, and the Salvation Army.    The objectives for the training exercise were to:  have [...]