March 15, 2023
For immediate release
Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards Released
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has released report cards on local environmental conditions in 28 watersheds within the UTRCA.
“The watershed report cards grade surface water quality and forest conditions, and include a wide range of other information in readable 8-page packages”, explained Cathy Quinlan, UTRCA Terrestrial Biologist. “The UTRCA produces report cards every five years to track changes and guide local action.”
The 2022 Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards reveal that water quality grades in the 28 watersheds range from C to D. Since the previous report cards, water quality scores have improved in five watersheds, remained steady in 21, and declined in two. The overall surface water quality grade has remained steady since 2012, averaging a D across the UTRCA watershed.
The grades for forest conditions range from C to F, with D being the most common grade. Eleven watersheds showed slight improvements, mainly due to young tree plantations that have reached maturity, while 13 were steady, and four had slight declines. Overall, the Upper Thames River watershed has 11.3% forest cover, which is a D grade.
The report cards also summarize watershed features, recommend local actions to improve the environment, and highlight progress made over the last five years, including work being done by municipalities, landowners, community groups, the UTRCA, and others.
“In this region, watersheds face on-going pressures from population growth, development, weather extremes, and other impacts, so maintaining the status quo in stream quality can be a measure of progress,” said Craig Irwin, UTRCA Water Quality Specialist. “Improving the overall watershed health is always the goal, though, to support healthy communities for people and wildlife and build resilience in the face of climate change.”
Follow these links to find out what watershed you live in and how it scores:
- 2022 Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards
- Summary brochure for the Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards
Contact:
Cathy Quinlan, Terrestrial Biologist
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
[email protected]
519-451-2800 ext 234
Craig Irwin, Water Quality Specialist
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
[email protected]
519-451-2800 ext 264
