Blue Jays and Acorns
Blue Jays and Acorns In fall, acorns begin to drop from oak trees. It is amazing to think that this little nut may someday grow into a mighty oak. However, not all the seeds are viable. Some may become infested with a fungus or acorn weevils which lay their eggs inside the acorn. When the eggs hatch, the growing larvae feed on the nut. To determine viability, acorns can be dropped into a bucket of water and those that sink have a fairly good chance of germinating. It is reasonable to think the energetic squirrel is the biggest distributor [...]
UTRCA Hosts LID Workshop
UTRCA Hosts LID Workshop On October 18th, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) in collaboration with the University of Western Ontario Water Centre hosted a half day workshop on “Storm Water Management (SWM) Low Impact Development (LID) Operation and Maintenance” at the UTRCA Watershed Conservation Centre (WCC). Fifty six people attended the workshop which included staff from consulting engineering firms, municipalities, local conservation authorities, First Nations and graduate students. The workshop included an outdoor session highlighting the LID features at the WCC and indoor presentations by Dr. Clare Robinson from Western University, Bill Trenouth from AECOM (London office), [...]
Groundwater Sampling is Underway with the Addition of Pesticides Sampling
Groundwater Sampling is Underway with the Addition of Pesticides Sampling October and November are very busy months for the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff who are out sampling groundwater throughout the watershed. This fall, 22 of the 28 Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) wells are being sampled. PGMN was developed in 2001 in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). The program was designed to collect ambient groundwater quality and quantity data. PGMN monitors low water conditions and site and aquifer specific groundwater quality. All wells in the PGMN have data loggers installed in them [...]
Don’t Fear the Foam!
Don’t Fear the Foam! From time to time there is unsightly foam flowing down the river or accumulating along the shoreline in the Upper Thames River watershed. If you have every experienced this, you may have immediately thought this was some chemical flowing down the waterway. In a majority of situations, the foam is a natural phenomenon. What causes foam? Natural foam is composed of dissolved organic matter, specifically dissolved organic carbon that has come from decomposing plants. The natural die off of vegetation releases the organic materials plants are composed of, including oils, and the buildup of these [...]
Savanna Restoration Project Update
Savanna Restoration Project Update A project to transition a stagnant pine stand next to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s Watershed Conservation Centre parking lot into a diverse pine-oak savanna and tallgrass prairie habitat is progressing nicely. The pine stand consisted of spindly 40-year-old pines that were planted too densely and had stagnant growth. Invasive plants such as Chinese Elm, Russian Olive, and buckthorn had spread throughout the area. On the plus side, native tallgrass prairie grasses had self-seeded into openings in the pine plantation from an adjacent plot. This indicated a prairie or savanna was a better [...]
Give Endangered Turtles a Chance at Survival this Giving Tuesday
Give Endangered Turtles a Chance at Survival this Giving Tuesday Protect Reptiles At Risk Southern Ontario’s native reptiles need your help now. They have been suffering drastic population declines due to many threats including poaching, climate change, predation, road traffic, and more. You can be a part of their recovery by supporting the conservation efforts of Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR)! SOARR is one of the longest running and most successful reptile conservation programs in Canada and takes direct conservation action for endangered wildlife including Spotted Turtles, Blanding’s Turtles, Spiny Softshell Turtles, Eastern Hog-nosed [...]
River Safety Message Spreads Thanks to Enbridge Gas
River Safety Message Spreads Thanks to Enbridge Gas Many thanks to Enbridge Gas and the Fueling Futures Grant for their support of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s River Safety Education program. River Safety is an in-class program of hands-on, interactive activities designed to familiarize grade two students with the dangers associated with water bodies and, specifically, the river. The program also creates an awareness of the hazards associated with structures such as dams and dykes, reservoirs, as well as stormwater ponds. Through the use of puzzles, games, and presentations, the program shows students how to stay [...]
The Hows and Whys of Fall Leaf Colour Change
The Hows and Whys of Fall Leaf Colour Change October is the best month in the Thames watershed to go for a walk to see the fall colours in your local conservation area, park, or natural area. But why do the leaves of deciduous (non-evergreen) trees and shrubs change colour? It is a bit complicated, but, in a nutshell, as the sunlight hours shrink, chlorophyll production in the leaves slows down and then stops. Eventually, all the chlorophyll is destroyed. Chlorophyll converts sunlight to food energy and is the pigment that gives leaves their green colour. Once the [...]
New Educational Programs and Events Coming Soon Thanks to TD Friends of the Environment
New Educational Programs and Events Coming Soon Thanks to TD Friends of the Environment Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff are thrilled to have received two grants from TD Friends of the Environment! Wildwood Community Education staff have received a grant for over $6,000 to develop and implement a pilot water systems program. This subject area was chosen for the grant due to inquiries from teachers about local water systems content for the grade eight curriculum. The "Forces of Nature" pilot program will enable six grade eight classes to spend the day at Wildwood Conservation Area participating in [...]
Tree planting with the Métis Nation of Ontario
Tree Planting with the Métis Nation of Ontario On September 23, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) joined the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) in a community tree planting on UTRCA owned lands adjacent to Fanshawe Reservoir. The MNO planted 40 native trees including red oak, black cherry, sugar maple, black walnut, hackberry, red maple, and white pine. This planting marks the second year we have partnered with the MNO to naturalize this area, increase biodiversity, and help create a wildlife corridor. We look forward to continue working with the MNO in future years! [...]