Bugs tell the Water Quality story (UTRCA weekly, July 15, 2022) The spring benthic sampling season has come and gone, with many people not knowing it was happening or even what it is. Ontario’s Conservation Authorities monitor the health of watercourses in our watersheds in a number of ways, and one program involves sampling benthic macroinvertebrates – the “bugs” that live along the bottom of streams, rivers, and ponds. [...]

First GREENFest! Celebrates Students’ Hard Work (UTRCA weekly, July 8, 2022) GREEN Leaders classes from across the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) came to Fanshawe Conservation Area on May 24-27, to participate in GREENFest!, a weeklong event hosted by Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Community Education and Partnerships staff. Start.ca sponsored the event and provided volunteers each day. Karlee Flear, Community Education Supervisor, explained the GREEN program: [...]

Tree Planting using Plastic Mulch at Irwin Farm (UTRCA weekly, June 24, 2022) Bill and Carrie Irwin recently had staff from the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) help them with planting trees on their farm property in Dorchester. The Irwin family has owned and operated the farm over three generations. The farm is certified organic and, after selling a neighbouring property, the Irwins had to establish a 25 [...]

Have Your Say about Drinking Water Source Protection (UTRCA weekly, June 17, 2022) The Thames-Sydenham and Region Source Protection Plan is a science-based plan aimed at protecting sources of local municipal drinking water. The plan determines areas where these drinking water sources are vulnerable, identifies potential threats, and develops plans to deal with the threats. Staff with the drinking water source protection program have started public consultation on an [...]

Pine Plantation Restoration project (UTRCA weekly, June 10, 2022) Visitors to the Watershed Conservation Centre in Fanshawe Conservation Area may notice part of the pine plantation near the parking lot has been removed. The work is part of an ecological restoration project that Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff have been working on, with funding from the Invasive Species Centre, Nature London, and UTRCA. The plan is to [...]

Perth Children’s Water Festival a Success (UTRCA weekly, June 3, 2022) The first in-person Perth Children’s Water Festival was a great success with more than 500 people in attendance! The event was held at Stratford’s Falstaff Family Centre on Sunday, May 29. Families were able to participate in several hands-on, educational booths being run by community organizations to learn about the importance of water and its conservation. The City [...]