Surveyors Hit the Ground Running
Surveyors Hit the Ground Running Kenny Tomljenovic, July 2023 Flood modelling begins with the essential job of watercourse surveying. Each year, a team of Field Survey Assistants joins the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) from June to November to collect information about the shape of watercourses all over the Upper Thames River watershed. While waterbodies look flat from above, the ground beneath can be far from it. “It’s hard to tell where the ground is,” said Collin Branton, GIS Specialist – Water Resources. “So, the Surveyors use GPS equipment to measure the elevation of the [...]
Patrolling London’s ESAs
Patrolling London's ESAs Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff designated as Provincial Offences Officers have been focusing their patrols on the City of London's Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs), enforcing rules and municipal by-laws as well as answering trail users’ questions and concerns. Over the last few years, UTRCA staff have noticed a large increase in trail users which has also meant an increase in by-law infractions. Common infractions include: dogs being off leash, biking on hiking-only trails, and off trail usage (parties, encampments, etc.) These by-laws are in place to protect the wildlife and vegetation throughout the ESAs as well as the public that frequent the areas. [...]
Creating a Buzz with New Pollinator Factsheets
Creating a Buzz with New Pollinator Factsheets To meet the growing interest in, and concern about, our native insect pollinators, UTRCA staff have produced two colourful factsheets and a pull-up display. The first factsheet, Introducing Native Insect Pollinators, explains why these insects are essential to natural and agricultural ecosystems, the types of insects that do most of the pollinating, and how insects pollinate flowers. There is also information on why insect populations are declining and what people can do to help. The second factsheet, Attracting Butterflies to your Garden, outlines the essentials of providing food, water, habitat, and host [...]
Stratford All-Wheels Park LID Project
Stratford All-Wheels Park LID Project The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) partnered with the City of Stratford to implement an All-Wheels Park Low Impact Development (LID) Project to address an existing drainage issue in the city’s skate park. After a rainfall, sections of the park as well as the all-wheels ramps would be inaccessible due to the standing water caused by the rain. To address this, the LID project included three rain gardens totaling 125 square metres along with improved grading to capture the runoff into the rain gardens. The crew responsible for creating the rain gardens. [...]
Improvements to Kains Woods ESA
Improvements to Kains Woods ESA In May, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff constructed a new boardwalk in Kains Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) off Shore Road in London. This was to reroute the existing managed trail around severe erosion that was causing the existing boardwalk to collapse. Staff had been monitoring the erosion for several years and, without the ability to bring in heavy machinery to restore the eroding bank, options were very limited. Staff decided to reroute the trail and rebuild the boardwalk at a safe distance from the eroding bank. They are now exploring the [...]
Rollout of the 2022 Watershed Report Cards
Rollout of the 2022 Watershed Report Cards With the completion of the 2022 Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Watershed Report Cards in March, 2023, staff have been spreading the word far and wide about the findings. The launch began with a media release, with good uptake from local newspapers, radio stations and other platforms. Staff also conducted an interview on Rogers Cable’s show “What’s up Oxford.” Print copies were distributed to watershed libraries and are still available. Mass emails were sent to numerous agencies, municipalities, environmental groups, educators, First Nations and other stewards of the upper Thames River [...]
UTRCA hosts London-Middlesex Children’s Water Festival
UTRCA hosts London-Middlesex Children’s Water Festival This May, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) hosted the London-Middlesex Children’s Water Festival. Over the four days of the festival, students in grades two through five came to Fanshawe Conservation Area for a fun and educational field trip to learn about the importance of water in their daily lives. This year, we had record registration, with requests for over 11,000 students to attend the festival! Because of this enthusiastic response, we were able to accept more students than we ever have, welcoming 1,000 a day with 4,069 students over the entire festival. The festival [...]
Learning in and with Nature
Learning in and with Nature How incredible to think that Fanshawe and Wildwood Education staff have been offering Nature School at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) for three years now! The Nature School programs provide opportunities for participants to spend time in and with nature using the principles of Forest and Nature School. These principles, shared by staff that are trained Forest and Nature School Practitioners, focus on providing repeated outdoor experiences that are led by the children participating, and both play and place based. In the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023, Child and Caregiver programs were provided at [...]
UTRCA hosts Perth Children’s Water Festival
UTRCA hosts Perth Children’s Water Festival The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Perth Children’s Water Festival provides a hands-on learning environment for families from Perth County to discover the importance of water in their lives and communities. It is a fun and educational event that focuses on learning about water based on five themes: Conservation, Protection, Science, Technology and Attitude. After a successful inaugural Perth Children’s Water Festival community event in Stratford last year, this year’s event was held at Lion’s Park in Mitchell on Sunday, May 28. More than 500 people attended and participated in the [...]
Rotary Club of St. Marys Tours Wildwood Dam
Rotary Club of St. Marys Tours Wildwood Dam On May 15th, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff hosted members of the Rotary Club of St. Marys for a tour of Wildwood Dam. Members were very impressed with the size of the structure, its function and the maintenance required to keep it operational. Many remembered the area before the dam was built and knew former landowners.