How to Build a Snake Hibernaculum Snake hibernacula are underground chambers where snakes can spend the cold winter months. As natural hibernation sites become more difficult to find due to urban expansion and other disturbances, constructed hibernacula provide safe spaces for snakes to find refuge. This fall, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff built a snake hibernaculum at Snake Woods Nature Preserve in Oxford County. The species that may occupy the structure this winter include Eastern Garter Snake, DeKay's Brown Snake, and Milk Snake. Scott Gillingwater, Species at Risk Biologist with the UTRCA, provided the following [...]

Black Redhorse Reappears in Fish Creek   This summer brought an exhilarating find: the reappearance of the Black Redhorse, Moxostoma duquesnei, a Threatened Species at Risk fish, in the waters of Fish Creek! This species of sucker, found in only a few rivers in Canada, had not been recorded in the Fish Creek subwatershed in over two decades. This discovery signals successful local conservation efforts.  Imagine encountering a stunning medium sized, metallic bluish-black fish with large yellow eyes and a vertically oriented suckermouth. This discovery spurred extra excitement for the Upper Thames River Conservation Area (UTRCA) aquatic staff. Their [...]

Staying Active at Our Conservation Areas this Winter  While the camping and extended day-use seasons have come to an end, there are still plenty of opportunities to stay active at Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Conservation Areas (CAs) this winter, during daylight hours. The dam crossing at Pittock CA is closed to pedestrian traffic as of December 8th. However, the trails on both the North and South Shore are accessible from dawn to dusk. View information about Pittock's trails here. The trails at Fanshawe CA are also available, including the 21 km Lake Trail which is open for [...]

Thamesford Lions River Park: Viewing Areas, Angling Access, and Streambank Naturalization  Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff from Community Partnerships and Integrated Watershed Management units have been working with the Thamesford Lions Club and the Township of Zorra on a design for River Park in Thamesford that includes the construction of a naturalized buffer zone along the banks of the river as well as multiple viewing areas. Currently, foot traffic along the river’s edge has degraded the riverbank and contributed to erosion and sedimentation in the watercourse. This work will let the public view and access the river while protecting [...]

What is POSEIDON? The health of the Great Lakes is increasingly threatened by harmful algal blooms, occurring in response to excess nutrients in the water and a warming climate. Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)'s Water Quality Specialist, Craig Irwin, was invited to a workshop that included the official launch of a new water quality portal called POSEIDON, designed to aid in understanding and mitigating the human impacts on water quality. The web-based portal has been developed by Dr. Nandita Basu and her team at the University of Waterloo to analyze vast amounts of water quality data. The goal [...]

2023 Field Surveying Team Measures Record Number of Elevation Points Our 2023 field survey team wrapped up the surveying season just in time for the holidays. Once again, they had a successful season collecting information on stream depth, shape, and bank heights while also measuring the size and shape of bridges and culverts across our watershed. They measured over 28,000 elevation points and surveyed around 280 bridges and 1,760 stream cross-sections since the season started in early June. This sets a new record for number of elevation points collected in a year! The team was lucky to welcome back [...]

All About Oak Wilt  Oak Wilt is a vascular disease caused by the fungal pathogen Bretziella fagacearum. The first known case of Oak Wilt in Canada was confirmed in Niagara Falls in May 2023. Although all oak species are vulnerable, the red oak group (red, black, and pin) are most susceptible, frequently resulting in death within 2-12 months of infection. Species in the white oak group (burr, swamp white, and white) are more tolerant of the disease and may survive infection for one or more years while displaying declining symptoms.   The fungus grows on the outer sapwood beneath [...]

Accessible Features on UTRCA Properties  The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) owns and/or manages more than 5,790 ha (14,300 ac) of land within the Upper Thames River watershed, spread across 40 properties.   The forests, wetlands, meadows, watercourses, and ponds within these properties are critically important for preserving and restoring the watershed’s ecological health, as well as providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature appreciation.  Westminster Ponds ESA The UTRCA has been working on several properties, often with community partners, to add accessible features to trails, boat launches, and platforms. They include:  Accessible fishing platform at [...]