UTRCA launches the Collaborative Water Data Viewer The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is excited to announce the launch of the Collaborative Water Data Viewer (CWDV). This interactive, open-data portal can be used to access real-time environmental monitoring data from UTRCA and our partners. The UTRCA received funding for this project through Royal Bank of Canada’s Tech for Nature Grant, with the goal of enhancing data accessibility and integration. The CWDV allows users to view monitoring stations spatially, interact with the data in tables and graphs, and download the data in a variety of formats.  Monitoring stations measure parameters [...]

UTRCA Passes Available to Library Patrons  The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has once again 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.   “This is an important program for the UTRCA as it makes the parks even more accessible to people in our watershed. Our hope is that they check out the pass, visit one or all of our parks and have a great time enjoying the outdoors,” says Damian Schofield, [...]

How to Attract Native Insect Pollinators to Your Garden Insect pollinators are essential in our ecosystems, providing vital services to fruit and vegetable crops, flowers, trees, and shrubs. The production of many foods (e.g., apples, cherries, blueberries, squash, and tomatoes) depends on pollinators. The loss of these insects would have far-reaching effects on our native plant communities and organisms that depend on them for shelter and sustenance. Generally, pollination is achieved by two means: wind and insects.  Plants that are wind pollinated have indiscrete, green flowers and light pollen that floats in the air. Flowers that have adapted to insect pollination have heavy, [...]

Introducing the Shared Waters Action Plan for the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority The Thames River is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in Canada. Its watershed comprises nearly 25% of the Canadian Lake Erie basin and is the largest riverine watershed in the Lake St. Clair drainage basin. As a result, the Thames River has the potential to significantly impact conditions in Lake St. Clair and contribute to phosphorus loads in Lake Erie.  Many partners, including local First Nations, federal and provincial governments, City of London, Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, and Upper Thames River Conservation Authority [...]

Live Staking with University of Western Ontario  On April 25th, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) partnered with a group of University of Western graduate and undergraduate students on a stream bank stabilization and natural buffer zone project along a stretch of Medway Creek that runs through Western’s campus.   The project included the planting of 200 native shrubs and trees along what was previously a turf grass lawn running right up to the creek’s banks. The planting team also hammered into the shoreline live stakes of sandbank willow trees that had been previously harvested in a location further [...]

UTRCA Presents to City of London's Community Emergency Management Program Committee On April 20, Eleanor Heagy, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Communications and Marketing Coordinator, gave a presentation to the City of London Community Emergency Management Program Committee at the City’s Emergency Operations Centre. The presentation was an overview of Conservation Authorities and the UTRCA, flooding on the Thames River, and the UTRCA’s flood forecasting, warning, and response program. Eleanor was invited to speak to the committee after first giving this presentation to the Policy Group during the City’s annual mandatory training exercise in November 2022. The scenario [...]

UTRCA Community Partnership Specialist receives Conservation Award  Tom Cull, Community Partnership Specialist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), received a Conservation Award from Nature London in recognition of his outstanding volunteer work with Antler River Rally.    More than 10 years ago, Tom, his partner Miriam, and their son Emmett, started picking up garbage while taking their regular walks along the river. Tom grew this passion into the Antler River Rally. Tom is the co-founder and director of this volunteer community group, which he organizes to conduct monthly clean-ups of the Thames River in and around London.  [...]