Fantastic Fall with Fanshawe Nature School!
Fantastic Fall with Fanshawe Nature School! Let’s celebrate fall! This is what the participants (ages 2-5 with caregivers) of Fanshawe Nature School were thinking and doing while immersing themselves in one of their favourite places to be - in nature! Our fall session of Fanshawe Nature school was a delight from start to finish with our mornings filled with exploration, discovery and most importantly play! Highlights were helping the trees we planted in the spring by mulching and putting a rodent guard around them, painting our pumpkin rocks and feeding the chickadees! We ended off our fall session by [...]
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30th, 2024
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30th, 2024 To mark September 30th, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) worked with the Indigenous Solidarity and Awareness Network (ISAN Oxford) to organize a Sunrise Ceremony which took place in the Bluegrass area of Pittock Conservation Area. Open to the public, the event drew close to fifty people. Elders Dan and Mary Lou Smoke performed the ceremony which included a Sacred Fire and Eagle Staff. Attendees were invited to offer tobacco to the fire and share prayers and reflections. The day concluded with [...]
Shape the Future of Our Watershed – Share Your Input into the UTRCA Watershed Strategy!
Shape the Future of Our Watershed – Share Your Input into the UTRCA Watershed Strategy! At the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), our mission is to: protect people and property from flood and erosion hazards and support safe development, protect and enhance water quality and a sustainable water supply, make science-based decisions and deliver landowner stewardship, provide natural spaces and recreational opportunities, and empower communities and youth. To further set out our guiding principles and objectives, we are preparing a Watershed-based Resource Management Strategy (Watershed Strategy) with the goal of improving the effectiveness of our programs and services. [...]
Métis Nation of Ontario planting
Métis Nation of Ontario planting The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) planted 75 trees adjacent to the Fanshawe Reservoir on September 28th, 2024. This is the third annual planting for which we’ve partnered with the MNO to create a wildlife corridor and reclaim a section of an agricultural field. We look forward to working with them again next year!
Climate Change Festival Spurs Hope and Action
Climate Change Festival Spurs Hope and Action The Hope and Action Climate Change Festival on September 21st at Fanshawe Conservation Area was a great success! Over 2,200 people attended and enjoyed tours of Fanshawe Dam and the LEED-certified Watershed Conservation Centre. This event was part of Doors Open as well as the kick-off to the Green in the City event series. Thank you to all the partners who took part in this great day: Bird Friendly London Canadian Raptor Conservancy City of London Fanshawe College Fanshawe Let's Talk Science Forest City Flyfishers Club Goodwill Industries Local Food Trucks London Bicycle Café [...]
Celebrate the Thames
Celebrate the Thames On Saturday, October 5th, 2024 the "Celebrate the Thames" event took place in Lions River Park in Thamesford. Organized in partnership with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and Thamesford Lions Club and supported with generous funding from TD Friends of the Environment Fund. The day began with a special Water Ceremony performed by Wahsayzee Deleary. The event featured environmental education booths, Indigenous cultural education and awareness, and plenty of family friendly activities. Over 250 Attendees enjoyed presentations from the Aspen Ojibwe Spirit Horses, the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, and demonstrations of Indigenous flint knapping by [...]
Growing Good Land Stewards at the Carolinian Forest Festival
Growing Good Land Stewards at the Carolinian Forest Festival Springwater Conservation Area was buzzing with over 2,000 students who attended the Carolinian Forest Festival from October 7-10 this year. After pouring out of school buses, the grade 7 and 8 students dispersed to 37 different activity stations set up along a hiking trail in Springwater Forest. Each station featured hands-on, interactive games and activities to teach the students about forest ecosystems, species at risk, stewardship and conservation, and climate change. The lessons were linked to the Ontario curriculum and allowed each student to connect to their environment in new [...]
Fish Surveying in the Thames River
Fish Surveying in the Thames River Wet weather has made for a logistically challenging field season for our fish surveying team. The heavy rain has amounted to many days when the river water was too high and cloudy to work safely. Despite the challenging conditions, we have managed to survey a total of 69 sites in the Upper Thames River watershed, so far this year. White Sucker, Central Stoneroller, Rock Bass and Smallmouth Bass are amongst the most commonly observed fish species. Some other less commonly observed, more sensitive species, such as Northern Sunfish, Black Redhorse, Mottled Sculpin and [...]
A Staff’s Perspective: SOARR Day
A Staff’s Perspective: SOARR Day On Saturday, August 17th, Scott Gillingwater and the Southern Ontario at Risk Reptiles (SOARR) team hosted an informational session on their Species at Risk program for friends and family at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s Watershed Conservation Centre (WCC). I attended and brought my partner along. We were really looking forward to seeing the team in action and speaking about this program. With Scott leading things you feel the weighted importance and passion that drives these programs. Like similar events in the past, this day gave staff and volunteers a behind-the-scenes view [...]
O-week Tree Planting with Huron University
O-week Tree Planting with Huron University On Saturday, Sept 7, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) partnered with Huron University’s Orientation Week to provide over 50 first- and upper-year Huron students with a native tree and shrub planting event on campus. Together, we planted 130 large trees that, once grown, will extend the Medway Heritage Forest system that borders the campus. Trees species included Maple (Autumn Blaze, Red, Sugar) Hackberry, Bitternut Hickory, Tulip, White Spruce, Eastern White Pine, Red Oak. Shrub species planted included Nannyberry and Elderberry. Thanks to the students for joining us to kick off their [...]