2025 Oxford Children’s Water Festival a Resounding Success
2025 Oxford Children’s Water Festival a Resounding Success The Oxford Children’s Water Festival returned to Pittock Conservation Area from May 13 to 17, 2025, welcoming over 3,500 students for a week of hands-on environmental learning and outdoor fun. Hosted by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), the festival offered engaging activities focused on water conservation, environmental science, and community stewardship. Students from across the watershed explored interactive stations that aligned with Ontario’s curriculum, while volunteers and community groups helped bring each learning opportunity to life. A highlight of the week was the Family Night held on May 15, [...]
UTRCA Participates in MECP Spills Training
UTRCA Participates in MECP Spills Training If you noticed the bright green water in Crockett Drain in Dorchester earlier this month, do not be alarmed! On June 3, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) hosted a spills response training in Dorchester. This training was held at Dorchester Conservation Area, which is managed by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA). Staff from both the UTRCA and the MECP were present, looking to learn best practices regarding spills that enter into surface water sources. Different sources of spills were discussed including common substances such as manure, oil, and [...]
Perth Children’s Water Festival in St. Marys
Perth Children’s Water Festival in St. Marys The 2025 Perth Children’s Water Festival on Sunday, May 25, 2025 was a great success with over 800 people attending. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) would like to thank our sponsors, community partners and volunteers who helped make it possible. Water Festival Organizing Committee: Avon Maitland District School Board Don Gibson Huron Perth Public Health Ontario Clean Water Agency Ontario Federation of Agriculture Pat Donnelly St. Marys Cement Thames River Clean Up Town of St. Marys Sponsors: Stratford Perth Community Foundation The Annie and Isabelle Chesterfield Fund and the Jim [...]
RT Orr Dam Work Complete
RT Orr Dam Work Complete The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has successfully completed the repair and reinstallation of the south sluicegate at the R. Thomas Orr Dam in the City of Stratford. The R. Thomas Orr Dam was constructed in 1964. It is located on the Avon River, a tributary to the North Thames River, in the City of Stratford. The dam and reservoir are a focal point in the park setting. The structure consists of two gated spillways and a duck-bill shaped overflow weir. Each sluicegate is about 14 feet tall and 24 feet wide, and [...]
Mini Forest at Fanshawe Conservation Area
Mini Forest at Fanshawe Conservation Area This June, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and London Environmental Network (LEN) began the process of planting a mini forest at Fanshawe Conservation Area. The first step in successfully planting a mini forest? Site preparation! With the help of dedicated staff and volunteers, UTRCA and LEN staff began the process of preparing the site to be planted this fall. Using a technique called sheet mulching, layers of cardboard, compost, and mulch were placed over the planting site. This process will kill the existing grass, decompose over the summer months, and result [...]
UTRCA Park Pass Program continues
UTRCA Park Pass Program continues Once again, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has partnered with libraries through the watershed to provide day-use vehicle passes for their patrons. Library users are able to “check out” a day-use vehicle pass from their local library to be used over a three-day period. These passes will allow for day-use entry to Fanshawe Conservation Area in London and Wildwood Conservation Area outside of St. Marys. An individual who borrowed a pass from the Strive Professional Resource Centre shared their feedback saying, “As a Professional working in the Early Childhood Education Field, we [...]
Over 400 Students Participate in the 2025 GREEN Leaders Summit
Over 400 Students Participate in the 2025 GREEN Leaders Summit On June 3rd, over 400 grade 7/8 students from 16 classes in the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB), and the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board (HPCDSB) came together for the GREEN Leaders Student Summit. For the second year, the event was hosted by Huron University College where the campus and lecture theatres provided a beautiful venue for GREEN Leaders to learn, share, and celebrate their accomplishments in the program. At the beginning of the school year, each GREEN Leaders class selected [...]
Spring 2025 Tree Planting
Spring 2025 Tree Planting Season Wraps Up with 32,000 Trees Planted The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) recently finished another successful tree planting season with just over 32,000 trees and shrubs planted and distributed. More than 30 landowners in the watershed took advantage of the UTRCA planting services. In addition to the crew’s efforts, another 93 landowners undertook planting on their own to increase and restore natural ecosystems on their property. The cooler temperatures and ample moisture throughout April and May were ideal for planting. Forestry staff and a crew of four braved heat, rain, snow and wind. [...]
Source Water Protection at the Children’s Water Festival!
Source Water Protection Attends Children's Water Festival! From May 13th to May 16th, the Thames-Sydenham Source Protection Region proudly participated in the 2025 Oxford Children’s Water Festival, held at Pittock Conservation Area. The event provided a fun and educational opportunity for students to explore the importance of drinking water protection and the science behind it. Throughout the festival, students engaged in hands-on learning activities that focused on the sources of drinking water and the multi-barrier approach used to safeguard them. One of the highlights included a demonstration about the dangers of improper handling of hazardous household substances—especially dense non-aqueous [...]
Tackling Giant Hogweed: the UTRCA’s Ongoing Effort to Protect Local Ecosystems
Tackling Giant Hogweed: the UTRCA’s Ongoing Effort to Protect Local Ecosystems Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Lands and Facilities staff have been hard at work managing one of Ontario’s most dangerous invasive species: Giant Hogweed. This invasive species not only threatens native species by outcompeting them but poses serious health hazards to people and wildlife due to its toxic sap. This spring, we’ve dedicated over 120 hours of work and treated approximately 116 acres of authority-owned property along the Thames River. This effort involves careful surveying, management and ongoing monitoring to reduce the spread of Hogweed and provide [...]