Recognizing Young Conservation Innovators at the Thames Valley Science and Engineering Fair听

This April, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff had the exciting opportunity to participate in the Thames Valley Science & Engineering Fair, held at Western University. For over a decade, UTRCA, in partnership with Lower Thames Valley and Kettle Creek Conservation Authorities, has proudly judged the competition and presented the Conservation Award to a Junior Division (Grade 6-8) project that demonstrates outstanding conservation research with a local focus.听

This year's award was presented to Annelies Luyt from London Christian Elementary School for her project, Enzymes at Work: Breaking Down Fibres for a Greener Future. Annelies explored how enzymes can be used to break down fibres, offering a potential eco-friendly solution for reducing textile waste. Her research highlights the power of science in developing innovative strategies for sustainability and waste management.听

Annelies' impressive work also earned her the Grand Award for Physical Science, Junior Division, the highest honour at the fair, securing her a place at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, where she will showcase her project on a national stage.听

To celebrate her achievement, Annelies received a pair of binoculars and the Conservation Award Plaque, which will be displayed at her school for the next year.听

Congratulations to Annelies and all the students who showcased their creativity and commitment to conservation through science!听

Progress Towards Water Quality Goals in the Upper Thames River Watershed听

In 2016, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) implemented a Strategic Plan to help support environmental sustainability within the watershed, with one of the key areas focusing on improving water quality. The goal for water quality throughout the UTRCA jurisdiction is to improve each subwatershed's report card score by one letter grade by the year 2037. Conservation Authorities release watershed report cards every five years that are scored on a letter grade system. One strategy that that may help meet our goal is to encourage landowners and farmers to participate in our Phosphorus Reduction Program. An example of this would be to incorporate the 4R concept into their agricultural practices. This is a Best Management Practice (BMP) that helps keep nutrients, particularly phosphorus, in the farm field rather than running off into the watercourses. The 4Rs stand for Right source, Right rate, Right time, and Right place, referring to the responsible application of fertilizers to crops.听 Another way to aid in this endeavour is to expand our water quality monitoring efforts, allowing us to fill in knowledge gaps and implement science-based decision-making.听

Water quality is assessed using three indicators: total phosphorus, bacteria, and benthic macroinvertebrates. Phosphorus comes from many sources including fertilizers, detergents, and waste. Excessive phosphorus in a water system contributes to algae blooms and low oxygen levels, negatively impacting aquatic ecosystems. E. coli is a form of coliform bacteria present in human and animal waste. High concentrations of E. coli indicate the potential for other harmful pathogens, posing a health risk. Benthic macroinvertebrates are aquatic insects/small organisms that live at the bottom of a stream within the sediments and serve as a bioindicator of water quality and stream health. Diverse and healthy benthics populations are associated with better water quality. Each indicator is impacted by the land use activities in the area, including, but not limited to, agriculture, road salt application, and urban development. Much of the area within the Upper Thames River watershed is heavily influenced by either urbanization or agriculture practices, contributing to an average watershed grade of D.听听听

Despite the current letter grade, UTRCA watersheds are seeing an improvement in water quality. Pottersburg Creek in the City of London has seen steady total phosphorus levels since 2017, and levels are just slightly above the UTRCA goal of C. Compared to some of the phosphorus numbers in other areas of the watershed, this is relatively low. The Avon River has shown improvement in the concentrations of E. coli since 2015 and is also approaching our goal of letter grade C. Plover Mills Corridor is the furthest from its benthics goal, however its current letter grade is currently B, the best in the Upper Thames watershed.听听

In addition to the improvements above, some subwatersheds have already met their goal regarding the above indicators. Wye Creek has surpassed its total phosphorus goal and is currently sitting at a grade D, while Ingersoll Corridor's bacteria grade has improved from a D to a C since 2017. Dorchester Corridor is currently the only subwatershed to have met its goal regarding benthics, and has moved from a D in 2017 to a C in 2022. To date, 8 subwatersheds out of a total of 28 have already met or surpassed at least one of their 2037 water quality goals. Many of the other subwatersheds are showing improvement and are on track to meet their targets in the future.听

Overall, our total phosphorus goal has been met in five subwatersheds, E. coli bacteria goal has been met in three, and benthics have been met in one. Given the external pressures on our environment, it is remarkable that the grades have improved or remained stable. Water quality monitoring, and implementation of stewardship practices such as our Phosphorus Reduction Program, have and will continue to help improve water quality conditions in the coming years.听

For more information visit the Upper Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Program website.听

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Down by the River: Stream of Dreams Brings Back Memories for Dearness 糖心直播 Residents

This spring, the beloved Stream of Dreams program came to Dearness 糖心直播. Over 500 fish will be painted by residents, their loved ones, visitors to the day program, and staff. In June, the fish will form a beautiful mural outside of Dearness, representing the residents鈥� hopes for the Thames River.

Herb, a 91-year-old resident of Dearness, took the time to write down and share his memories of the river. 鈥淎s kids, we all had our dreams. But you know where they all went to? We all spent our time at the river,鈥� he began.

When Herb was a child, he remembers having good clothes, school clothes, and hiking clothes. Suited in his hiking clothes, he would head down to the river with his friends to explore. 鈥淎ll the time we had a backpack ready,鈥� he said. His bag would be equipped with everything needed for a riverside feast, including a pot, pan, matches, can of beans, salt, and even eggs fresh from his family farm. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing like a hardboiled egg out there when you鈥檙e hiking 鈥� and a saltshaker!鈥�

Beans and eggs weren鈥檛 the only thing on the menu, though. 鈥淥n our way to our big hike, we would pass the bakery shop. For a nickel, we could get day old cookies and those sticky little buns,鈥� he shared. 鈥淭hat bag full lasted us all day鈥�.

At the river, Herb and his friends constructed fishing rods from sticks and string. They would spend the day fishing and searching for other animals to admire. 鈥淭ake a little notebook if you want to figure out what kinds of birds hang around the river,鈥� he suggested. A magnifying glass was another treasured tool he would use for investigating 鈥減olliwogs鈥�, toads, and crickets.

鈥淪o have a good time, take a walking stick, pack up your ol鈥� kit bag… and you will fill your full dreams down by our good ol鈥� Thames River,鈥� he concluded.

The Stream of Dreams presentation and painting project brought back many memories for Herb, as well as other Dearness residents and staff, and we were grateful to hear their stories. Thank you to the City of London for their support of the program.

You can listen to Herb first-hand in our video and find photos of the program in our album.

2025 Conservation Area Season听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA)鈥檚 Conservation Areas (CAs) are open for the 2025 season! Both Fanshawe and Wildwood CA have been open for day-use access on a daily basis since April 1. 听

On May 1, 2025 Fanshawe, Pittock and Wildwood Conservation Areas CAs will open for overnight and seasonal camping. These three beautiful parks offer many wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities.听

Fanshawe CA, located just outside of London, offers 511 campsites and 30 km of hiking and biking trails. In Woodstock, Pittock CA offers 248 campsites and a nationally rated 18-hole disc golf course. Finally, Wildwood CA is located outside of St. Marys with 387 campsites including four back country sites.听

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to have visitors back using our day-use areas, the reservoirs and trails, and we鈥檙e looking forward to the 2025 camping season beginning. We have already rebooked some of the exciting programming听that was well received by guests last summer for this year,鈥� says Damian Schofield, Conservation Areas Coordinator.听听听

With the return of the operating season, the popular Park Pass Program has made a comeback. Since 2019, the UTRCA has partnered with libraries in the watershed to offer park passes to library patrons. Using their library card, patrons can 鈥渃heck out鈥� a day pass to gain day-use access to Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas.听听听听

Participating libraries include:听听听

• Childreach Lending Library London听听听
• London Public Library听
• North Perth Public Library听听听
• Oxford County Library听听听
• Perth East Public Library听听听
• St Marys Library听听听
• Stratford Library听听听
• West Perth Public Library听

For more information on the CAs and to book a campsite online, visit our websites:听听

• 听听
• 听听
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Oak Wilt Awareness听

Oak Wilt is a serious, invasive tree disease caused by the fungal pathogen Bretziella fagacearum. First confirmed in Canada in Niagara Falls in May 2023, this disease affects all Oak species, with Red Oaks being especially vulnerable鈥攐ften dying within 2 to twelve months of infection. White Oaks may survive longer but still suffer from gradual decline.听

The fungus spreads in two major ways: underground through root grafts between neighbouring trees, and aboveground via sap beetles which carry spores from fungal mats on dead trees to fresh wounds on healthy ones. Moving firewood, nursery stock, or infected wood products can also spread the disease across greater distances.听

Signs and symptoms to watch for include:听

• Leaves wilting and turning bronze or yellow, starting at the top of the tree;听

• Early and sudden leaf drop;听

• Fungal mats under the bark of dead trees with a sweet or fruity odour;听

• Cracks in the trunk from internal fungal pressure pads; and/or听

• Black staining in the sapwood.听

To help stop the spread:听

• Don鈥檛 move firewood 鈥� buy and burn locally;听

• Avoid pruning oak trees between April and November. If you must, seal any wounds immediately with wound paint or shellac; and听

• Report any suspected cases to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency with photos of the signs, symptoms, and location.听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) encourages everyone to stay informed and take action to protect our Oak trees. Learn more about Oak Wilt’s identity, biology, and management through resources from the , including species profiles and free online courses.听

Know the signs鈥攈elp protect Canada鈥檚 oaks.听

River Safety Program Wraps Up Another Successful Season听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA)'s River Safety Education Program has wrapped up another successful season, teaching Grade 2 students how to stay safe near rivers, creeks, and streams. This interactive, in-class program highlights the Thames River watershed through hands-on activities, storytelling, and discussion. Linked to the Grade 2 Science (water cycle) and Health and Physical Education (safety) curriculum, it gives students a deeper appreciation for their local watershed while teaching them how to stay safe near water in any season.听

Students explore the dangers of fast-moving water, slippery banks, and ice-covered surfaces, as well as the risks posed by dams, dykes, and reservoirs. Through engaging lessons, they learn to recognize hazards and make safe choices. This education is more important than ever as climate change leads to more intense and frequent rainfall events, increasing the risk of flooding. With a growing number of newcomers to Canada settling in our watershed, the program also plays a key role in helping families unfamiliar with our river systems understand how to stay safe year-round. Research has shown that young children, especially boys, are particularly vulnerable to water-related accidents, making early safety education essential.听

This program is made possible thanks to the generous support of our community sponsors. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Optimist Clubs of Tavistock, Downie, Oakridge Acres, Byron, Shakespeare, Mitchell, Thorndale, North Dorchester, Ellice, Arva and District, North London, Kirkton-Woodham, and Carling Heights, as well as the Hickson and District Lions Club, Ingersoll Lions Club, the Rotary Club of St. Marys, the Rotary Club of Stratford, the Thamesford Lions Club, and Tecumseh Community School. Their support ensures we can continue delivering this vital education to students across the region.听

Thank you to all our sponsors, educators, and students for making this year's River Safety Education Program a success. Together, we are building a safer, more informed Upper Thames River community!听

2025 Kickoff to Tree Planting听

As spring emerges and winter is leaving for another season, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) Forestry and Restoration staff are gearing up to dive into the 2025 tree planting season.听听

This spring, approximately 33,000 trees and shrubs will be planted and distributed throughout the watershed via听our private land program. Twenty-nine landowners are working with UTRCA staff to create various types of tree planting projects, including windbreaks, riparian buffers along watercourses and forests throughout the watershed. Once planting has been completed, a total of 26,427 new trees will be in the ground.听

Some of the many trees UTRCA staff will plant this year

In addition to the private planting programs, 100 landowners purchased trees and shrubs to plant on their own properties to help prevent erosion, restore natural ecosystems, and increase biodiversity.听

Although the first few days of tree planting have been cold and wet, the tree planting crew is eager and working hard to get large stock hand planting trees in the ground. Once these trees are planted, crews will be switching over to complete hand planting and machine planting with seedlings.听听

Once planting is completed, UTRCA Forestry and Restoration staff will coordinate site visits with landowners looking to complete planting projects in 2026.听 Grants are available for seedling projects and are anticipated to offset costs by up to 80% thanks to various funding partners. In 2025, landowners received over $125,000 to help support their plantings.听听

If you are interested in completing a planting project on your property in 2026, we encourage you to reach out by contacting our staff or completing this .听听

Hope in the Land Expo听

On Saturday, April 5th, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) Community Partnership staff participated in Carolinian Canada's Hope in the Land Expo, a community event held at the Western Fair Agriplex. The event brought together local organizations to learn about and to celebrate the land, ecological justice, conservation efforts, and local biodiversity. UTRCA staff participated on a panel about protecting and enhancing ecological corridors; many visitors also stopped by the UTRCA booth to learn more about conservation authorities, participate in fun hands-on activities for all ages, and take home a native flower seed packet.听听听

Find the UTRCA at Earthfest London听听

Looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day? Earthfest London is hosting a free festival in Citi Plaza and the Central Library on Saturday April 26th from 11AM – 4PM. The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) will be there and programming will include lots of family fun! Ride your bikes (free bike valet parking) and marvel as Citi Plaza is transformed into an extravaganza of 100+ vendors, exhibitors and activities all dedicated to improving the environment. Kids will love meeting the wildlife ambassadors from Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, meeting Olympian Maggie MacNeil as she performs a reading of the Dr. Seuss classic, The Lorax and learning about DIY wind-powered cars. Checkout the听 for the full program schedule.听

Bringing the Local Watershed into the Classroom听

In March, 糖心直播 (UTRCA)'s Community Education Coordinator, Karlee Flear, had the opportunity to present to Teacher Candidates at Western University's Faculty of Education. The session, Place-Based Environmental Education: Using the Local Landscape in your Classroom, explored how teachers can connect students to their local environment using Conservation Authority resources and data.听

The talk focused on the vital role of Conservation Authorities, highlighting the programs and services they offer to the local community. Karlee introduced future educators to UTRCA's educational programs and showcased the many ways teachers can integrate local watershed data and resources into their classrooms. From watershed report cards and species at risk information, citizen science apps to native plants and connections to Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) and Conservation Areas, these tools can help bring a local perspective into any subject and ack as a spark for inquiry-based learning.听

By incorporating real-world data and conservation initiatives, educators can engage students in meaningful learning that deepens their understanding of environmental issues and fosters a sense of stewardship. UTRCA is committed to supporting teachers in bringing these connections to life through field trips, lesson plans, and community partnerships.听

If you're a teacher interested in using UTRCA's resources to enhance your lessons, connect with our Community Education team to explore the many available opportunities!听

Contact:听Karlee Flear,听UTRCA Community Education Coordinator