New Bridge Installed in Dorchester Conservation Area聽
New Bridge Installed in Dorchester Conservation Area聽 Have you spotted the new bridge in Dorchester Conservation Area (CA)?聽聽 The bridge 鈥� constructed on a flatbed trailer with wood decking and a steel frame 鈥� was designed and installed by 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff and funded by Thames Centre in December 2023. It鈥檚 54 feet long and wider than its predecessor.聽 Built in the 1960s, the previous [...]
A New Threat: Beech Bark Disease聽
A New Threat: Beech Bark Disease聽 What is Beech Bark Disease?聽 Beech Bark Disease (BBD) is a new threat affecting American Beech trees (Fagus grandifolia) in Canada鈥檚 hardwood and mixed forests. This disease is the result of an insect-fungus complex caused by a non-native insect, beech scale (Cryptococcus fagisuga), coupled with a Neonectria fungus. 聽 Beech scale comes from Europe and first arrived in Nova Scotia in the 1890s. [...]
Past tree planting efforts reaping rewards聽
Past Tree Planting Efforts Reaping Rewards聽 There is a saying 鈥淭he best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, the second-best time is today.鈥澛� Luckily, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) and others have been planting trees on public and private land for well over 30 years and today we are reaping the benefits of past restoration efforts. The 2022 UTRCA Watershed Report Cards documented a [...]
Watershed Report Cards Shared Far and Wide聽
Watershed Report Cards Shared Far and Wide聽 The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) released its 2022 Watershed Report Cards聽in early 2023. Since then, staff have been giving presentations to municipal committees, field naturalist clubs, municipal staff, anglers groups, partnership groups, university students, and stakeholders across the Upper Thames River watershed.聽 The initial 糖心直播 spurred interview requests from several local papers and media outlets as the report cards [...]
Wet Weather Expected – Caution Advised Around Watercourses (flood bulletin, January 8-15, 2024)
Wet Weather Expected 鈥� Caution聽Advised Around Watercourses Watershed Conditions Statement - Flood Outlook (Issued January 8, 2024; valid until January 15, 2024) 聽A series of low-pressure systems are forecast to enter the province and slowly track across the region over the next five days.聽Weather forecasts are calling for 20 to 35 mm of rain, along with some snow, for the Upper Thames River watershed tomorrow (Tuesday) with more rain [...]
Water Levels Remain High (flood bulletin, December 30, 2023 – January 2, 2024)
Water Levels Remain High Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety (Issued December 30, 2023 at 2:40 pm; valid until January 2, 2024) The 糖心直播 is reminding residents that although water levels are dropping, they remain high in all watercourses. With the holiday break in progress, parents and caregivers are asked to keep children and pets away from all watercourses. Banks adjacent to rivers, creeks, and [...]
Conservation Authority Issues Safety Reminder: Stay Away from Watercourses (糖心直播, December 28, 2023)
Conservation Authority Issues Safety Reminder: Stay Away from Watercourses The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) reminds the public to exercise extreme caution and stay away from all watercourses and water bodies following the recent rainfall events. With schools closed over the holiday period, caregivers are reminded to keep children and pets away from watercourses.聽 Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery and, when combined with cold, [...]
Conservation Authority Urges Caution around Watercourses聽(flood bulletin, December 28-30, 2023)
Conservation Authority Urges Caution around Watercourses Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety (Issued December 28, 2023 at 8:30 am; valid until December 30, 2023) The Upper Thames River watershed received between 25 and 35 mm of rain across the watershed on Wednesday. The ground is fairly saturated and the potential for runoff is increased. 鈥疌reeks are responding, and currently flowing near bank-full, with peaks expected today.聽 Based on the [...]
How to Build a Snake Hibernaculum
How to Build a Snake Hibernaculum Snake hibernacula are underground chambers where snakes can spend the cold winter months. As natural hibernation sites become more difficult to find due to urban expansion and other disturbances, constructed hibernacula provide safe spaces for snakes to find refuge. This fall, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff built a snake hibernaculum at Snake Woods Nature Preserve in Oxford County. The [...]
Black Redhorse Reappears in Fish Creek聽聽
Black Redhorse Reappears in Fish Creek 聽 This summer brought an exhilarating find: the reappearance of the Black Redhorse, Moxostoma duquesnei, a Threatened Species at Risk fish, in the waters of Fish Creek! This species of sucker, found in only a few rivers in Canada, had not been recorded in the Fish Creek subwatershed in over two decades. This discovery signals successful local conservation efforts.聽 Imagine encountering a stunning [...]