New accessible fishing dock at Dreamland in Dorchester  The construction of a new accessible fishing dock at Dreamland in Dorchester was spearheaded by the Mill Pond Committee with work being completed by Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff.   This pier was installed to encourage people to fish from the constructed dock as opposed to having foot traffic along the water's edge which damages the vulnerable vegetation.  After further construction, the fishing dock will be wheelchair accessible which allows for more diverse usage among the community. It also provides more accessibility for a greater number of people to appreciate [...]

New Extended Season at UTRCA Conservation Areas As the season of change approaches, we are looking forward to a new offering this fall. After listening to your feedback, we are introducing an Extended Season at Fanshawe and Wildwood Conservation Areas (CAs)! The Extended Season will offer an additional six weeks of day-use access to hiking, biking, and enjoying the lakes and green spaces. Here’s what you need to know: Amenities offered to visitors during this extended season will include: Customer service staff on site, Access to hiking and biking trails, Access to Fanshawe reservoir for canoeing and kayaking (pending reservoir [...]

Sales Continue for Tree Power   Residents of Perth South and St. Marys are reminded to take advantage of the current Tree Power programs. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has partnered with Perth South and St. Marys municipalities to once again offer affordable trees to residents.   Trees are $25 each. Available species include:  Autumn Fantasy Maple  Downy Serviceberry  Native Red Maple  Red Oak  Sugar Maple  Tulip Tree   Tree sales for Perth South are available here. Tree sales for St. Marys are available here.  Perth South Tree Power tree hand outs are on Saturday, September 30 from 8 [...]

UTRCA Staff Host OPACA Members at Thorndale Demonstration Farm In August, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) stewardship staff participated in the Ontario Professional Agri-Contractors Association (OPACA) car tour along with custom operators, farming equipment representatives, and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs staff. The tour included stops at the ADS Canada manufacturing plant, A&L Canada Laboratories soil testing facility, and the Thorndale Demonstration Farm.   At the demonstration farm, stewardship staff alongside drainage contractor, Ken McCutcheon, highlighted the farm’s suite of Best Management Practices (BMPs) including contoured controlled drainage, water and sediment control basins, pollinator garden, [...]

Turtle Hatching Season Winding Down During the 30th Year of Reptile Conservation Program Based out of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) is one of the longest running and most successful reptile research and recovery programs in Canada. With efforts spanning three decades within the Upper Thames River watershed and beyond, many significant milestones have been achieved over the decades. One of these milestones is our reptile nest protection program. With increasing success each year, approximately 10,000 hatchling turtles have emerged out of incubators at the SOARR lab. This nationally and internationally [...]

UTRCA Website Updates  The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s (UTRCA’s) website has received some much needed updates over the last couple of years. The Parks, Recreation and Natural Areas section has been restructured to make the types of lands the Authority owns clearer. They include the three large multi-use Conservation Areas (Fanshawe, Pittock and Wildwood), smaller day-use Conservation Areas (CAs) and Tracts, as well as other UTRCA Lands (wetlands, floodplains, agricultural lands).  Day-use CAs  A watershed map is provided showing the location of the eleven small day-use CAs and Tracts within the UTRCA. There is a webpage for each CA and/or Tract that includes a [...]

Thames Valley Trail Association Anniversary  The Thames Valley Trail Association (TVTA) will hold its 50th Anniversary Celebration at Fanshawe Conservation Area on September 23 and 24, 2023. Members will gather for hikes, keynote addresses, an Indigenous Water Blessing, and plenary discussions on such topics as invasive species, trail management, volunteer recruitment, extreme weather challenges and much more. On Saturday evening the TVTA invites everyone to their celebration gala dinner, which will include a keynote address by Canadian explorer and adventurer, Adam Shoalts.  More information below: TVTA Gala Invitation Eventbrite ticket link

O-Serves at Western University O-Serves is a special day during Western University's Orientation week that introduces first-year students to organizations and volunteer opportunities within the greater London community.   This year, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) partnered with Antler River Rally and the Thames Talbot Land Trust to offer first-year engineering students an on-campus event that included a river cleanup and native pollinator planting.   While some students tackled garbage on campus, others planted native plants along the Medway stream at a location where the UTRCA had recently planted live stakes and shrubs as part of an ongoing project [...]