2022 Year in Review   As we settle into the new year, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is reflecting on many highlights and achievements of 2022.  Watershed residents continued to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits offered by the outdoors as we welcomed more than 160,000 visitors to Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas.   With many COVID-19 restrictions lifting over the last year, we were once again able to engage with over 600 students and over 850 community members through Communities for Nature projects. Thanks to everyone’s hard work, we planted:  3,144 trees, 478 of which [...]

Responding to the First Snowmelt and Rain Event of 2023 "We have measurements of how much snow is on the ground at locations across the watershed. We also know the amount of the rain that is forecasted for the region and the general conditions of the ground. In the winter months, the ground is usually frozen or saturated,” says Mark Helsten, Senior Water Resources Engineer at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA).   With that information, combined with historical data, Mark and the Water and Information Management (WIM) team use flood models to estimate how much water is [...]

Local Landowner Donates 5 Acres of Land to the UTRCA  (Published Jan. 2023) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has received a generous 2.02 hectare (5 acre) donation from Ron Anderson, who inherited the land in Dorchester Swamp from his father, John, and his grandmother, Helen.  The small lots in Dorchester Swamp were created in the 19th century to sell to local farmers to provide them with access to cedar posts and firewood. The Anderson family has maintained the property as natural habitat under the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program and is pleased that the land will continue [...]

Tree Sales and Stewardship Project Planning Underway  The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has a long history of tree planting and sales through the region, having helped plant and distribute nearly 10 million trees since 1949.  Landowners who reside in the  watershed and own a minimum of 1 hectare (2.5 acres) are eligible to participate in the UTRCA’s Tree Planting on Private Lands program. Trees purchased through this program may be planted by the landowner or through the UTRCA’s full planting service. Interested landowners are encouraged to place their orders as soon as possible as some species and [...]

UTRCA Biologist receives Conservation Award  Cathy Quinlan, Terrestrial Biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), was recognized with a Conservation Award from Nature London in recognition of her substantial and long-standing contribution over 20 years to the Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT).   Cathy has acted as the Trust’s Chair of the Land Securement Committee (LSC) since 2009. She is described as the “conductor of the LSC orchestra”, acknowledging her role coordinating the many activities involved in securing a property. During her tenure as Chair, more than a dozen nature reserves have come under TTLT’s care. Cathy has also [...]

Maintaining Safe Trails along Snake Creek in an Environmentally Significant Area  Snake Creek is located just south of the Museum of Ontario Archeology in the Medway Valley Heritage Forest, one of London’s Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs). A trail winds along the creek, enabling community members can enjoy its natural beauty. Unfortunately, the integrity of the trail suffers from erosion, fallen trees, and other challenges. As the City of London funds a contract with the Upper Thames Region Conservation Authority (UTRCA) to manage several ESAs, including Medway Valley Heritage Forest, UTRCA staff have made several improvements to the trail along Snake [...]

Protecting Drinking Water: It's the Season for Salt! This winter, Conservation Ontario (CO) along with local source protection authorities and regions, have launched a 15-week public information campaign about how to Salt Responsibly.   New education tools include social media posts and an online mapping application about the impacts of road salt across Ontario. In addition, a Salt Responsibly Sticker campaign was developed by CO and a small working group. These stickers will be placed on salt bins located within drinking water protection zones to help reduce risk, and keep drinking water safe and clean.  “We aim to raise awareness [...]

GIS Day 2022 at Western University  Last November, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) participated in Western University’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day at the Western Libraries’ Open House event.   The day brought students, colleagues, and community leaders together to showcase the latest in GIS products and applications. UTRCA staff brought its interactive Augmented Reality Sandbox to teach attendees about the influence of topography on water flow across the landscape.   Craig Irwin, Water Quality Specialist with the UTRCA, gave a presentation titled “Integration of Field Maps and Survey123 for Agricultural Data Collection.” He illustrated how GIS applications were [...]

Fanshawe Conservation Area Hosts City of London Marine Interoperability Exercise  In late 2022, Fanshawe Conservation Area (CA) once again played host for the annual Marine Interoperability Training Exercise. The exercise had participants and observers from London Police Services, London Fire Department, Middlesex London Paramedic Service, HMCS Prevost, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, London Search and Rescue, and the Salvation Army.    The objectives for the training exercise were to:  have the various emergency services showcase the variety of equipment they use in marine-related emergency situations,   be placed into interagency teams and, while on the reservoir, obtain practical equipment familiarization, [...]