Snow Melt Progressing (flood bulletin, February 17-20,2022)
Snow Melt Progressing (flood bulletin, February 17-20, 2022) FLOOD WATCH Issued February 17, 2022 at 1:30 pm; Valid until February 20, 2022 The winter storm currently affecting the Upper Thames River Basin produced 20-40 mm of rain since last evening, with slightly higher amounts in the northern portion of the watershed. Temperatures overnight were in the single digits above zero before dropping to near freezing temperatures late this morning. [...]
Spring Melt Possible this Week (flood bulletin, February 16-20, 2022)
Spring Melt Possible this Week (flood bulletin, February 16-20, 2022) WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY Issued February 16, 2022 at 9:55 am; Valid until: February 20, 2022 The Upper Thames River basin currently has a typical snowpack for this time of year. The snow survey conducted by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff on February 15, 2022, indicated approximately 60 - 90 mm of water equivalent [...]
New Campsite Reservation System for Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas (UTRCA Weekly, February 11, 2022)
New Campsite Reservation System for Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas (UTRCA Weekly, February 11, 2022) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has launched a new and improved online reservation system for the 2022 camping season. The new Camis 5 reservation system for Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas went live on February 1, offering customers a fresh look and feel to the online experience. The new system provides [...]
Beware of Unstable Ice Conditions (media release, February 7, 2022)
Beware of Unstable Ice Conditions (media release, February 7, 2022) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) reminds the public that going onto frozen water bodies for recreational activities is hazardous. Parents and guardians are encouraged to remind their children of the danger and to keep pets away from all water bodies. Frozen flood control reservoirs, ponds, and other water bodies on UTRCA property are not monitored for the [...]
West London Dyke Reconstruction Project (UTRCA Weekly, February 4, 2022)
West London Dyke Reconstruction Project (UTRCA Weekly, February 4, 2022) The West London Dyke stretches nearly 2.4 kilometres along the North Thames River from Oxford Street to the Forks of the Thames, and then west along the main Thames River to Cavendish Park. The City of London owns the dyke and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) undertakes major maintenance as part of its flood control program. Construction [...]
Specialized Tool Required to Measure Extreme Flows (UTRCA Weekly, January 28, 2022)
Specialized Tool Required to Measure Extreme Flows (UTRCA Weekly, January 28, 2022) In the Upper Medway Creek subwatershed, a late September 2021 rainfall event of 75 mm produced higher-than-normal stream flows for the time of year. UTRCA Conservation Services staff are monitoring the creek as part of a targeted subwatershed project that is studying the impacts of Best Management Practices, such as cover crops, on water quality. To calculate [...]
Winter Nature School at Fanshawe Conservation Area (UTRCA Weekly, January 21, 2022)
Winter Nature School at Fanshawe Conservation Area (UTRCA Weekly, January 21, 2022) Community Education staff are excited to once again offer their outdoor Nature School program at Fanshawe Conservation Area. This nature-based, outdoor education program was first offered in the fall of 2021 in response to the pandemic and it has returned thanks to its popularity. Fanshawe Nature School takes place in a beautiful forest where staff created different [...]
Nature School returns this winter at Fanshawe Conservation Area (media release, January 18, 2022)
Nature School returns this winter at Fanshawe Conservation Area (media release, January 18, 2022) Community Education staff are excited to once again offer their outdoor Nature School program at Fanshawe Conservation Area. This nature-based, outdoor education program was first offered in the fall of 2021 in response to the pandemic and it has returned thanks to its popularity. Nature School is land-based education that is centred on giving children [...]
Learn outdoors this winter (UTRCA Weekly, January 14, 2021)
Learn outdoors this winter (UTRCA Weekly, January 14, 2021) Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff are busy preparing for the return of Nature School next week. Located at Wildwood Conservation Area, near St. Marys, Wildwood Nature School is offering two different outdoor education programs in January and February of 2022. Children aged 18 months to five years, along with an accompanying adult, can participate in “Falcons and Fledglings” [...]
2021 Year in Review (UTRCA Weekly, January 7, 2021)
2021 Year in Review (UTRCA Weekly, January 7, 2021) As we settle into the New Year, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is reflecting on some of its achievements in 2021. Watershed residents continued to take enjoy the physical and mental health benefits offered by the outdoors, and we welcomed more than 160,000 visitors to Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas. While the camping season was closer to [...]