Protecting Conservation Area Infrastructure (UTRCA Weekly, December 24, 2021) Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff carried out a small project in mid-November to protect the Munro pedestrian bridge at Wildwood Conservation Area. Park staff had noticed that bank erosion had undercut adjacent trees and was impacting the bridge abutment, as can be seen in the photo below. To help stabilize [...]

Climate Change challenges UTRCA Reforestation Efforts (UTRCA Weekly, December 17, 2021) While spring tree planting activities often get all the attention, summer and fall maintenance is just as important to ensure newly planted trees survive. Planting a seedling is just the start -- vegetation control over the next two to three years is critical to ensure planting success. With tree and planting [...]

Studying the Economics of Cover Crops (UTRCA Weekly, December 10, 2021) Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff  have long recognized the environmental benefits of cover crops, and now are looking at their economic impact, too. Mike Funk, UTRCA Agricultural Soil and Water Quality Technician, explained that cover crops can have a direct impact on water quality and quantity, as they improve [...]

Community Science Volunteer Spotlight: Mike and Ruth John (UTRCA Weekly, December 3, 2021) This year, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has been working with 12 watershed property owners to pilot a new Community Precipitation Monitoring Project. Participants have been measuring and recording daily precipitation using the online Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) platform. CoCoRaHS is a community [...]

September 2021 flood event (UTRCA Weekly, November 26, 2021) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) watershed’s most significant flood event since before the pandemic, occurred as a result of 50-135+ mm of rain falling over a 24 hour period on September 22-23. With the watershed already saturated from rain earlier in the month, much of this rain was not absorbed into [...]

Autumn Groundwater Well Sampling is Well Underway (UTRCA Weekly, November 19, 2021) October and November are a busy time for Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff who are collecting water samples and groundwater supply data at monitoring wells across the Upper Thames watershed. The UTRCA has 28 groundwater monitoring wells that are part of the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN), and [...]