October 17, 2019 - The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is pleased to announce TD Tree Days 2019! Close to 2,000 native trees are being planted by TD staff and volunteers in the Thames River watershed this month. "TD Tree Days 2019 events are happening in Dorchester, London, St. Marys, and Woodstock, as well as at Oneida Nation of the Thames," said Karen Pugh, Resource Specialist at the UTRCA. [...]

September 30, 2019 - The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is pleased to announce Start.ca as the partner for the new GREEN Leaders Initiative Program in London. The GREEN Program involves students using inquiry-based learning to look at issues from new angles and seek innovative solutions to local environmental concerns. "We are delighted to partner with Start.ca for the new GREEN Program in London," said Brad Hertner, Community Partnership [...]

September 26, 2018 - The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), the Town of St. Marys, and the Ontario Clean Water Agency are offering tours of the St. Marys Waterworks Building and new reservoir facility, as part of Doors Open St. Marys. "The UTRCA is pleased to partner with the Town of St. Marys and the Ontario Clean Water Agency to highlight work that keeps drinking water safe in St. [...]

September 24, 2019 – National Tree Day is Wednesday, September 25, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and partners are planting trees at Kilally Meadows Environmentally Significant Area. "The UTRCA has partnered with Tree Canada, Home Hardware London East Store, the City of London, and Cedar Hollow Public School for National Tree Day," said Kim Gilbert, Community Education Technician at the UTRCA. "We will celebrate National Tree Day [...]

Salford, ON: The Forest Gene Conservation Association (FGCA), Oxford County, and Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) are pleased to announce the official opening of the Oxford County Bur Oak Seed Orchard for a Changing Climate. "As our climate continues to warm, local Bur Oak may not adapt well or produce seed for future forests. We are testing whether oak from warmer climates will be better adapted for Southern Ontario [...]

September 19, 2019 - Wildwood Conservation Area welcomes everyone with FREE admission for the Autumn Open House on Sunday, September 29th, 1 – 4 pm. Join us for an afternoon of free outdoor fun at Wildwood Conservation Area. Bring your hiking boots to explore the splendor of fall and all it has to offer. A variety of activities will be available including a campfire, cider, and wagon ride! Tour Wildwood [...]

September 18, 2019 - Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff and community volunteers are installing a new Stream of Dreams fence mural at The Quarry in St. Marys on September 25. "We are pleased to bring the internationally recognized Stream of Dreams program to St. Marys," said Vanni Azzano, UTRCA Community Education Supervisor. "The students and staff from Little Falls School and Holy Name School have painted 1,000 recycled [...]

September 5, 2019 - The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is working with the Municipality of West Perth to remove invasive Japanese Knotweed from parkland along the Thames River in Mitchell. Japanese Knotweed is an aggressive semi-woody perennial plant that is native to eastern Asia. In the 1800’s it was introduced to North America as an ornamental species. Japanese Knotweed is often mistaken for bamboo; however it is easily distinguished [...]

August 23, 2019 - The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is pleased to announce the successful incubation of Eastern Hog-nosed Snake eggs for the first time in the Thames River watershed! "Our Species at Risk team found these Eastern Hog-nosed Snake eggs earlier this summer in an area heavily impacted by predators and human use," said Scott Gillingwater, Species at Risk Biologist at the UTRCA. "We acted quickly to [...]

August 22, 2019 - Mr. Jeff Yurek, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), referred to the inability of municipalities to "control the spending" of Conservation Authorities, when responding to questions surrounding his letter sent to Conservation Authorities suggesting they "wind down" so called non-core programs. "Minister Yurek’s comments reflect a misunderstanding of the relationship between Conservation Authorities and their member municipalities and, more importantly, how individual municipalities are represented [...]