Buckthorn Replaced with Native Trees and Shrubs in Ellice Swamp
Buckthorn Replaced with Native Trees and Shrubs in Ellice Swamp If you’ve ever had the opportunity to visit the vast expanses of forests, swamps, marshes, and remnant bog habitats of Ellice Swamp just north of Stratford, you’ll understand what a special place it is. At approximately 1,100 hectares, Ellice Swamp is the largest remaining natural area and wetland in the Upper Thames River watershed. It is recognized as a significant groundwater recharge zone and Environmentally Sensitive Area in Perth County, and much of it is designated as Provincially Significant Wetland by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The swamp [...]
New Boardwalk installed at Shakespeare Conservation Area
New Boardwalk installed at Shakespeare Conservation Area Visitors to the Shakespeare Conservation Area will be able to use a new boardwalk, recently installed by Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff. Shakespeare Conservation Area (CA) is located 8 km east of Stratford and just north of the Village of Shakespeare. This small CA features a dam and pond, a pavilion and day use area, and a short woodland trail. The dam and pond are on a small tributary of the Avon River and the pond is popular with anglers. The dam is earthen with a drop inlet spillway [...]
The Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program is Now Open and Accepting Applications
The Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program is Now Open and Accepting Applications The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is excited to announce that Year 3 of the Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program is now underway, with funding available to help farmers and landowners implement practical projects that reduced phosphorus, improve soil health, protect local waterways, and strengthen farm operations. This year introduces new funding categories as well as higher cost-share opportunities for those implementing multiple Best Management Practices. Funding opportunities include: Manure Management (up to $50/acre) Cover Crops (up to $30/acre) Reduced Tillage/No-Till (up to $30/acre) Crop Fertility [...]
Huron University College Scotiabank Scholars 2026
Huron University College Scotiabank Scholars 2026 Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Community Education staff partnered with Huron’s Scotiabank Scholars for a 5th year, offering an intensive high school English credit and breaking down barriers for students from across the watershed. This year, the theme was water. On the first day of the course, students visited Fanshawe Conservation Area where they learned about the UTRCA’s core missions and challenges. The class enjoyed a tour of the Watershed Conservation Centre before participating in activities that included conservation science, Indigenous perspectives on land and water, and the art of communicating the [...]
Summer Events in the Watershed
Summer Events in the Watershed This June, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and the Museum of Ontario Archaeology (MOA) partnered on several events! Medway Heritage Festival On June 13, over 400 people gathered at the MOA for an immersive day of cultural and environmental programming! Over 30 community partners and vendors were on site, showcasing their local work and connecting with Londoners. The UTRCA was grateful to work alongside Elder Mary Lou Smoke to present the Biinaagami floor map, talking with attendees about the Great Lakes, treaties, the environment, all from a two-eyed seeing perspective. The UTRCA [...]
Head and Heart Research Fellowship visits the UTRCA
Head and Heart Research Fellowship visits the UTRCA Students from the Head and Heart Fellowship, offered through the University of Western's Office of Indigenous Initiatives, visited Fanshawe Conservation Area where they toured the Watershed Conservation Centre including a stop at the Turtle Lab for a visit with Scott Gillingwater, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Species at Risk Biologist. The students also participated in water quality testing through the collection of benthic micro-invertebrates and spent some time exploring the Biinaagami Giant Floor Map.
UTRCA at 4th Annual EarthFest
UTRCA at 4th Annual EarthFest On April 25, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) celebrated Earth Day by participating in London’s 5th annual EarthFest celebration. Held at the London Public Library Centre Branch and Citi Plaza, the festival welcomed more than 2,000 attendees who wandered through interactive displays set up by over 100 exhibitors and artists who shared local approaches to sustainability, ecological justice, and the protection and health of our planet. The day also featured a Kid Zone, scavenger hunt, face painting, and a presentation by the Salthaven Wildlife Ambassadors. The UTRCA served on the festival’s steering [...]
UTRCA Out in the Community: Science Rendezvous and Emergency Preparedness Day
UTRCA Out in the Community: Science Rendezvous and Emergency Preparedness Day On May 9, UTRCA Education staff were out in force across London, connecting with the community at two exciting events happening simultaneously in the city. At Western University, the UTRCA participated in Science Rendezvous — Canada's largest free science festival — featuring their Species at Risk turtle booth. The interactive station introduces visitors of all ages to the freshwater turtle species found in the Upper Thames watershed and the threats they face. Developed in partnership with Nature London, the booth sparked curiosity and conversation about local species, healthy [...]
London Environmental Network Sustainability Social
London Environmental Network Sustainability Social On June 2, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) hosted its second London Environmental Network Sustainable Social. The series is designed to connect change makers, inspire collaboration, and advance local sustainability efforts. Each Sustainability Social spotlights a unique theme, offering space for idea exchange, resource sharing, and community building across sectors. The theme of this Social was Green Stormwater Infrastructure and included tours of both Fanshawe Dam and green landscaping and stormwater features at the UTRCA's Watershed Conservation Centre. The tours were followed by a panel discussion about water conservation, blue and green [...]
Wáhta’: Honouring the Leader of Trees
Wáhta’: Honouring the Leader of Trees True environmental stewardship thrives at the intersection of community, education, and diverse knowledge systems. On June 1, this collaborative spirit came to life at the Westminster Ponds Centre during the Wáhta’: Honouring the Leader of Trees community planting project. Supported by the Environmental Action Incubator Grant from the London Environmental Network (LEN), Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) community education and partnerships staff joined high school students from the Head, Heart, and Hands Environmental Learning Program (H3-ELP) to work and learn alongside Oneida educator Patsy Day of Kaswentha Two Row Now. The day began with Patsy sharing teachings about sugar maple, known as Wáhta’ in Oneida. Described as [...]