UTRCA Library Park Pass Program Grows in Popularity
UTRCA Library Park Pass Program Grows in Popularity “Our community loves being able to borrow a free UTRCA Day Pass from their library. Demand for the passes continues to grow, with Londoners eager to explore these natural resources. It’s a great partnership for London Public Library,” shared Sarah Kasprzak, Integrated Library System Solutions Specialist with the London Public Library. Beginning in 2019, the UTRCA partnered with libraries in the watershed to offer park passes to library patrons. Using their library card, patrons can “check out” a day pass to gain access to Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas. [...]
UTRCA Tackles Dog-Strangling Vine, Japanese Knotweed, and Giant Hogweed with Support from the Invasive Species Action Fund
UTRCA Tackles Dog-Strangling Vine, Japanese Knotweed, and Giant Hogweed with Support from the Invasive Species Action Fund The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has been tackling three invasive plants thanks to a $10,000 contribution from the Invasive Species Centre’s Invasive Species Action Fund. Dog Strangling Vine, Japanese Knotweed, and Giant Hogweed grow throughout the watershed, but are a threat to native biodiversity and a hazard to the community. Dog Strangling Vine is an extremely aggressive plant that outcompetes native vegetation, creating a monoculture unsuitable for most wildlife. Japanese Knotweed can break through concrete and foundations, create visual barriers [...]
A Wet and Busy Summer for Integrated Watershed Management Staff
A Wet and Busy Summer for Integrated Watershed Management Staff The rain has certainly been keeping UTRCA stewardship field staff busy this summer as they perform routine water quality sampling for each major rain event that moves through the watershed. As rain falls and water levels rise, the concentration of nutrients flowing through watercourses, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, fluctuate with the addition of runoff from various sources, including agricultural fields and tile drainage. From a stewardship perspective, it is important to understand the impacts of runoff at the field scale to surface water quality as a whole. [...]
Perth South Township Office Low Impact Development Project
Perth South Township Office Low Impact Development project The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) partnered with the Township of Perth South to implement a Low Impact Development (LID) project at the Township’s Office. The LID was designed to address the recurring flooding of the parking lot, septic bed, and sidewalk caused by stormwater runoff. The project included a 93 square metre rain garden and a 35 metre-long bioswale to capture the stormwater from the parking lot and the workshop building. Grade four and five students from Downie Central Public School assisted in planting 900 native wildflowers in the rain [...]
Educational (and Fun!) Programming in the Conservation Areas
Educational (and Fun!) Programming in the Conservation Areas Did you know that each of the three UTRCA Conservation Areas (CAs) provide educational programming and events for kids and adults throughout the summer? Did you also know that we bring in outside organizations as well as our very own community education staff to hold events? Already this year, we have had the pleasure of welcoming several organizations including: Sciensational Sssnakes, Wild Ontario, Scales Nature Park, Canadian Raptor Conservancy, and Speaking of Wildlife. Each one has brought their own unique animals, ranging from snakes and turtles to birds of prey and [...]
Report Turtle and Snake Sightings Online!
Report Turtle and Snake Sightings Online! There is a new, quick way to report sightings of turtles and snakes in southwestern Ontario. Just submit a form online and it will go directly to Scott Gillingwater, Species at Risk Biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA). Visit the UTRCA Turtle Reporting Form to report: turtle nest with eggs turtle nest without visible eggs injured turtles, and other concerns regarding turtle health and safety Visit the UTRCA Snake Reporting Form to report: unidentified or unknown snake species rare snake species injured snakes, and other concerns regarding snake health and [...]
Events All Summer at Conservation Areas
Events all summer at Conservation Areas Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff are very excited for the events they have planned at Fanshawe, Pittock and Wildwood Conservation Areas (CAs). See below for details including where pre-registration is required. Please note: A valid park permit is required for all events. Fanshawe Conservation Area Saturday, July 22: Wild Ontario 4:00 pm, Recreation Shelter Visit with some of Ontario’s native birds! Each bird has a unique story to share about why they are no longer able to live in the wild and how they came to be ambassadors for public education [...]
Buffers along Water Courses Protect and Improve Water Quality
Buffers along Water Courses Protect and Improve Water Quality What are buffer strips? Buffer strips are permanently vegetated areas adjacent to open watercourses and wetlands, such as drainage channels, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. They are designed to help separate natural ecosystems from agriculture and developed areas to reduce the risk of contaminated runoff entering surface water. They may include trees, shrubs, grasses or wildflowers and can range from three to 30 m or more in width. How buffers help water quality Bank stabilization – The roots of grasses, shrubs and trees provide bank stability, which help prevent erosion [...]
Landowners Discuss Stewardship Projects in Two New Videos
Landowners Discuss Stewardship Projects in Two New Videos UTRCA Stewardship Services have released two new videos showcasing the various benefits of constructed wetlands and field windbreaks across the agricultural landscape. Constructed Wetlands as Green Infrastructure UTRCA partnered with Ducks Unlimited Canada and the landowner to promote the creation of more constructed wetlands. This video highlights two constructed wetland designs in the Upper Thames River watershed and the role of wetlands in mitigating flooding and improving rural water quality. https://youtu.be/i3QVZdRVIY0 Planting for the Future: The Long-term Economic and Environmental Benefits of Windbreaks UTRCA staff are working with local landowners [...]
Huron University College Scotia Bank Scholars
Huron University College Scotia Bank Scholars Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Community Education staff partnered for a second year with Huron’s Scotia Bank Scholars. It offers an intensive high school English credit to exceptional students from across the watershed who have been identified as facing barriers to post-secondary education. The theme for this year’s program 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 and the Fanshawe dam before participating in activities that [...]