Popular UTRCA Park Pass Program Continues to Grow听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA)'s popular Library Park Pass program is underway for another year! The UTRCA has partnered with libraries throughout the watershed to provide day-use vehicle passes for their patrons. Library users can "check out" a day-use vehicle pass from their local library to be used over a three-day period. These passes will allow for day-use entry to Fanshawe Conservation Area in London and Wildwood Conservation Area outside of St. Marys. 听

The following locations have been provided with 2026 passes:听

• London Public Library听听
• Municipality of West Perth Public Library听
• North Perth Public Library听听
• Oxford County Library听听
• Township of Perth East Public Library听听
• Town of St. Marys Library听听
• Stratford Public Library听
• Woodstock Public Library听

Visit your local library today to check out a day-use pass!听

*Note: Thanks to the UTRCA's partnership with the City of Woodstock, day-use access to Pittock Conservation Area is free to everyone.听听

Local Student Wins Conservation Award at Thames Valley Science听and听Engineering Fair听

This April, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) Education staff helped judge the Thames Valley Science and Engineering Fair at Western University in London. For the past 10 + years, UTRCA staff in conjunction with the Lower Thames Valley and Kettle Creek Conservation Authorities have judged and presented the Conservation Award to a Junior Division (Grades 6-8) project that best explores the topic of conservation with a local focus.听

This year’s winner was Harry Boyd from Matthews Hall school. For his project,听Renewable Alternatives to De-Icing Salt, Harry investigated whether everyday substances could replace traditional road salt as a听de-icer. Testing a range of alternatives, he found that compost leachate 鈥� the liquid that drains from decomposing organic material 鈥� showed promising results as a potential ice-melting agent.听

The topic hits close to home for our watershed. Road salt applied to driveways, sidewalks, and streets听doesn’t听disappear when the snow melts 鈥� it seeps into the ground, mixing with groundwater that many Upper Thames watershed residents rely on for drinking water. Elevated chloride levels also affect the river itself, posing risks to aquatic life and the broader ecosystem that the UTRCA works to protect.听

Harry’s focus on compost leachate is a clever angle 鈥斕齣t’s听a readily available byproduct of composting that could one day offer a practical, low-cost alternative to a chemical听that’s听surprisingly difficult to remove once it enters our water supply.听

To recognize Harry’s achievement, he received a pair of binoculars and the Conservation Award plaque, which will be displayed at Matthews Hall for the coming year. Congratulations, Harry 鈥� the Thames watershed is lucky to have young thinkers like you looking out for it.听

Wildwood and Pittock Dams – More than just Flood Control听

If you are a regular visitor to Fanshawe, Wildwood, or Pittock Conservation Area, you may have seen one of the reservoirs being used for its flood control role – storing water to reduce downstream flooding. Did you know that Wildwood and Pittock Reservoirs have a second, equally important, role: increasing downstream flows in the summer and fall?听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) stores water in Wildwood听and Pittock Reservoirs to reduce downstream flooding due to听snowmelt or听rain, and听uses that water to supplement downstream flows in the summer and fall, to support water quality and aquatic habitat.听

The UTRCA’s engineers follow an annual operating cycle for Wildwood and Pittock Dams. The reservoirs are听at their lowest听(winter holding level) at the start of the year. The low reservoirs听have听room to manage winter floods and to store runoff from snowmelt and winter/spring rains, which is used to fill the reservoirs听to their听summer conservation level.听

Wildwood Reservoir close to winter holding level.

Beginning usually听in late June, the water stored in the reservoirs is gradually released, increasing听flows downstream听to听benefit听water quality and aquatic habitat. Wildwood Reservoir augments听flows听in Trout Creek downstream to St. Marys, and in the North Thames River from St. Marys downstream to London. Pittock Reservoir supplements听flows听in the South Thames River from Woodstock downstream to London.听

Wildwood Reservoir at summer conservation level.

The reservoirs are slowly lowered throughout the summer and fall by releasing more water downstream than is coming听into them听from upstream. By early December, both reservoirs have been drawn down to their winter holding level, which听maintains听sufficient water for aquatic habitat while increasing flood storage for fall and winter floods. This brings the operating season full cycle, ready for whatever the next year brings.听

Read听more about how UTRCA operates its flood control structures.听听

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UTRCA Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program听听

Across the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) watershed, farmers and landowners are finding new ways to protect their soil, manage water, and sustain productivity for the long term. Supporting that work is at the听objective听of a new funding program: the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program.听听听

What does this program offer? Funding towards establishing native grasslands or perennial cover, planting pollinator strips, shelterbelts and windbreaks to protect fields, strategically retiring fragile or marginal lands, and restoring wetlands.听

Reach out to our Stewardship Team to explore听what鈥檚听possible on your property, and how these solutions can be tailored to fit your goals.听

Learn more听on our website.

Tree Planting Season Kicks Off听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) has officially kicked off its 2026 tree planting season. With a strong lineup of funding programs, this year鈥檚 efforts are about more than putting trees in the ground –听they鈥檙e听about building healthier, more resilient landscapes for the future.听

Across the watershed,听nearly 28,000听trees and shrubs will be planted this spring. Of those, 16,500 will be planted directly by UTRCA crews, with the remaining trees and seedlings planted by landowners themselves. Each planting project, whether a windbreak along a field, a new woodlot, or the restoration of a wetland, plays a role in reducing erosion, improving water quality, increasing biodiversity, and strengthening the long-term health of the land.听

Out in the field, the season is already underway. Despite a cold and wet start, staff have been hard at work, beginning with large stock trees carefully hand-planted across priority sites. As conditions improve, the work will ramp up, with crews shifting into full-scale seedling planting using both hand and machine methods to efficiently听establish听thousands more trees.听

This year, UTRCA is offering a wide range of stewardship funding opportunities designed to make tree planting and restoration more accessible than ever. Through programs such as the UTRCA鈥檚 Phosphorus Reduction Program, the Resilient Agricultural Lands Program, Forests Canada鈥檚 50 Million Tree Program, the Oxford County Clean Water Program, the Perth County Stewardship Program, and the Canadian Nature Fund, many projects may be eligible for significant financial support, often covering a substantial portion of the total cost.听

Whether听you鈥檙e听considering a small planting project or a larger restoration effort, the support is there, from technical guidance to hands-on implementation and funding听assistance.听

If听you鈥檝e听been thinking about planting trees, restoring a natural area, or enhancing your property for future generations, now is the time to start the conversation. Reach out to the UTRCA Forestry and Restoration Team to learn how these programs can work for you, and how your land can become part of something bigger.听

听Learn more here: on our website.听

Source Water Protection and Private Drinking Water Wells听

On March 25, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) hosted a Landowner Workshop for local farmers focused on best management practices. The Thames-Sydenham Source Protection Region was also in attendance, providing water sampling bottles for private wells and sharing information on how landowners can help protect their drinking water at the source.听

If you rely on a private well for your drinking water, it is your responsibility to ensure that your water听remains听safe. Protecting the area around your well is one of the most effective ways to听maintain听clean, safe drinking water for you and your family.听

If you have a private well, visit the Public Health Ontario听 to learn how to properly collect a water sample, find drop-off locations, and access your test results.

How to Protect Your Private Well听

You can help safeguard your drinking water by following these best practices:听

• Maintain听your septic system
  Have your septic system inspected annually and pump your tank every 3鈥�5 years to prevent leaks and contamination.听听

• Test your water regularly
  Test your well water for bacteria at least three times per year, or more often if conditions change.听听

• Inspect your well annually
  Check for cracks, damaged caps, pooling water, or other signs that contaminants could enter your well.听听

• Reduce chemical use around your property
  Use eco-friendly alternatives for fertilizers, pesticides, household cleaners, and road salts whenever possible.听听

• Store fuels safely
  Keep fuel tanks on secure surfaces with drip trays underneath to prevent spills from reaching the ground.听听

• Conserve water during dry periods听听

Responsible water use helps听maintain听your听well鈥檚 long-term reliability.听听

• Dispose of hazardous materials properly
  Take hazardous waste and unused medications to approved disposal facilities鈥攏ever dump them on your property.听听

• Maintain听natural buffer zones
  Preserve riparian or shoreline buffer areas to help filter runoff and protect nearby water sources.听听

To learn more about protecting your drinking water, visit:听

Landowner Workshops Recap听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) Stewardship Team recently wrapped up two successful Landowner Workshops, bringing together farmers, landowners, and environmental partners.听

In Thorndale, attendees gathered for our annual UTRCA Landowners Workshop, where the focus was on 鈥渟tacking鈥� best management practices and exploring both the environmental and economic benefits. Local voices led the way, grounding the discussion in real-world experience. Farmer and agronomist Curtis听Gartly听shared insights from his fields, while Marilyn and Wayne Flanigan of McCutcheon Farm Drainage addressed one of the most persistent challenges in agricultural: erosion.听

Staff highlighted water quality and successful restoration projects 鈥� and outlined the many ways听we鈥檙e听partnering with landowners to bring their stewardship projects to life. Adding to the momentum, partner organizations including Forests Canada, ALUS, Thames Talbot Land Trust, and Ducks Unlimited Canada shared funding opportunities available to support everything from tree planting to habitat restoration.听

The conversation continued in Mitchell, where UTRCA joined Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authorities for a second workshop. Here, the focus shifted to landscape projects such as grassland, prairies, windbreaks, wetlands, and reforestation initiatives that not only strengthen farm resilience but also contribute to healthier ecosystems.听听听

Guest speakers brought these ideas to life. Alanna听Coneybeare听of Conlee Farms Inc. spoke about the value of windbreaks and buffers in protecting soil and crops, while Kate Procter of Bodmin Farms Ltd. shared her experience with wetland creation and transforming marginal lands into thriving natural spaces.听

UTRCA offers a wide range of stewardship funding programs designed to support farmers and landowners in implementing projects that improve soil health, manage water, enhance biodiversity, and build long-term resilience. Whether听you鈥檙e听considering a small or large project, UTRCA is ready to help听identify听opportunities, provide guidance, carry out on-the-ground work, and connect you with available funding.听

To everyone who joined us in Thorndale and Mitchell, thank you.听We鈥檙e听looking forward to our next landowner鈥檚 event.听听听

听View more photos in our听

Learn More About Stewardship Funding Opportunities on our听website.

Bald Eagles听

Handsome and regal, bald eagles听are one of the most recognizable birds in the world.听Over the centuries they have听become a symbol of courage and strength. These majestic birds can听often听be听spotted around Fanshawe Lake听but there are many things you may not know about them.听

In the听late听20th century, bald eagles were on the brink of extirpation听due to hunting, habitat听loss听and pesticide ingestion. Measures,听such as听banning听the use of听DDT听(a pesticide that weakened听their eggshells听causing them to听break听easily)听in the 1970s听and other recovery efforts,听slowed their听decline. Populations recovered and their status was downgraded from "endangered" to "threatened" in 1995 and听by 2007, they听were听removed听entirely听from the list.听They now听flourish and their recovery is widely considered one of the greatest conservation success stories听in North America.听

Bald eagles are not bald in the literal sense. The name is derived from听old English meaning听"white-headed",听rather than hairless. A mature adult is听mainly brown听with a white head,听neck听and听tail. Both听sexes have identical听plumage,听but females are about 25% larger.听Juvenile birds do not obtain the distinctive adult听feathers听until they are听four听or听five听years old.听听

Bald Eagles are powerful flyers.听With a听wingspan of 2.3 meters (7.5 feet), eagles听are听well adapted听to听soaring听on thermal convection currents听for听long periods. Although听a large raptor,听they are surprisingly maneuverable in flight.听

Bald eagles typically prefer to live near large bodies of water where they can readily access food. They are opportunistic feeders that subsists听mainly on听fish, snatching them from the water with their talons.听Despite their reputation as mighty hunters,听bald听eagles will often steal from others听rather than do their own fishing. They are known to harass a hunting osprey until it drops its prey, whereby the eagle swoops it up. Even people and other mammals can lose fish to the听bald听eagle. They also听eat ducks, rodents,听snakes听and听carrion.听

Their eyesight is their most developed sense. They can see fish听and spot prey the size of a rabbit over听a听mile away.听With their "eagle-eye" vision, they听can see听four听to听five听times farther than humans and have a field of vision听of听340 degrees.听听

Living 30 years or more in the wild, bald eagles mate for听life and听reinforce their bond through spectacular听flight听displays. They court each other by soaring to high altitudes, locking talons and spiraling towards the earth, parting just before hitting the ground.听Bald eagles听are听also听known to play with plastic bottles and other objects听and听have been听observed听passing sticks to each other in midair.听

The adult pair build their nest together,听often returning听to the same听location听year after year.听They construct their听massive听nest, or "eyries",听near water in tall trees or on cliffs.听New material is added to the nest each spring.听Since the nests are reused every year, they become听very large听鈥撎齯p to five meters (16 feet) deep and three meters (ten听feet)听across and听can weigh听more than听one听ton.听

The next time you hear听the epic cry of听a bald eagle on TV,听don't听be deceived.听These formidable raptors have a meek, high-pitched cry. The screaming vocalization often associated with bald eagle听in movies听is听the听red-tailed hawk.听Their piercing screech sounds more ominous and intimidating, making them the听preferred avian voice in Hollywood.听

Now that you know more, keep an eye out for听bald eagles听throughout the Upper Thames River watershed.听

Brenda Gallagher, Forestry and Vegetation Specialist