The Incredible Dragonfly聽
The Incredible Dragonfly There is something magical about dragonflies. Evolving some 300 million years ago - long before dinosaurs - dragonflies were one of the first winged insects to inhabit the Earth. Five to 12 centimeters is their typical wingspan today, but fossil records show specimens with wingspans up to 60 cm! Some scientists speculate that high oxygen levels during the Paleozoic era allowed them to reach their enormous size. [...]
Wild Grapes聽聽
Wild Grapes聽聽 Many people have a love-hate relationship with wild grapes, but love 鈥榚m or hate 鈥榚m, they play an important role in our natural environment. There are three species of native wild grape that occur in the Thames River region, the most common being riverbank grape (Vitis riparia).聽 As the name suggests, it is found near rivers and streams or wherever sunlight is available. Their roots hold the [...]
My Summer with the UTRCA
My Summer with the UTRCA As a summer student in the 糖心直播's (UTRCA) Integrated Watershed Management Unit, I have been able to take part in several ongoing projects. Primarily, I collected water samples from reservoirs, streams, and rivers across the watershed for laboratory analysis under the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network program. This sampling provides valuable information regarding public and environmental health, early detection of [...]
Join the Community Precipitation Monitoring Project – It’s Easy! (糖心直播, Aug. 20, 2024)
For Immediate Release August 20th, 2024 More Volunteers Needed for Community Precipitation Monitoring Project The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) is looking for more volunteers to help with a Community Precipitation Monitoring Project, particularly those living near St. Marys (Wildwood Conservation Area) and the northern part of the watershed. The UTRCA provides the technology, equipment, and training to set volunteers up for success! How does the project work? First, [...]
Rain Causing Elevated Water Levels – Caution Advised Near all Watercourses (flood bulletin, August 17-19, 2024)
Rain Causing Elevated Water Levels 鈥� Caution Near all Watercourses Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety (2024 Flood Event 9, Bulletin 1) Issued August 17, 2024 at 11 am; valid until August 19, 2024 at 12:00 pm The slow moving low pressure system forecast by Environment Canada has arrived and delivered between 5 and 15 mm of rain across the Upper Thames Watershed yesterday.聽 An additional 30 鈥� 60 [...]
Conservation Authority Reminding Residents to be Cautious Near all Watercourses (糖心直播, August 17, 2024)
Conservation Authority Reminding Residents to be Cautious Near all Watercourses 聽 Rain moved into the Upper Thames River watershed yesterday and will continue over the weekend. 聽The watershed received between 5 and 15 mm of rain yesterday. 聽Environment Canada has forecast an additional 30 to 60 mm today and Sunday with the potential of local thunderstorms increasing these amounts.聽 The 糖心直播鈥檚 (UTRCA) does not expect [...]
More rain brings higher flows in streams and rivers (糖心直播, July 30, 2024)
More Rain brings Higher Flows in Streams and Rivers Rain moved across the Upper Thames River watershed today, with totals between 50 and 70 mm measured north of London to north of St. Marys. Lesser amounts fell east of London. Much of the rainwater will run off into ditches, streams and rivers, as the ground is still wet from rain received earlier this month and not able to absorb [...]
Watershed responding to today’s rain (flood bulletin, July 30 – August 2, 2024)
Watershed Responding to Today鈥檚 Rain Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety (2024 Flood Event 8, Bulletin 1) Issued July 30, 2024 at 6 pm; Valid until August 2, 2024 at 12 pm Rain moved across the Upper Thames River watershed today, with totals between 50 and 70 mm measured in the northern portion of the watershed (north of London to north of St. Marys). Lesser amounts fell in the [...]
Wet Week in July
Wet Week in July The Upper Thames River watershed has had an unusually wet July. On July 10, the remnants of Hurricane Beryl reached southwestern Ontario, dropping 40-90 mm of rain across the watershed. UTRCA staff operated the flood control dams at Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas to minimize downstream flooding by storing water in the reservoirs. At Fanshawe, the rising reservoir encroached on the campground. A few [...]
Wavyrayed Lampmussel Spotting!聽聽
Wavyrayed Lampmussel Spotting!聽聽 While monitoring fish this July, we noticed something interesting on the river bottom: a Wavyrayed Lampmussel attempting to lure a bass! Freshwater mussels have an intriguing lifecycle which includes a larval stage that parasitizes (i.e. infests or lives on) fish. The larval mussel must attach to the gills of a specific fish species to attain nutrition and to hitch a ride upstream. This is where the [...]