Join the Community Precipitation Monitoring Project – It’s Easy!

Through the Community Precipitation Monitoring Project, you can contribute to community science without leaving your own backyard!

How does it work?

First, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff will install a simple yet sophisticated rain gauge system on your property. Each day after, you will measure daily precipitation and record the results in the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) online platform.

Thousands of volunteers across participate in CoCoRaHS, with over 20 being right here in the Upper Thames River watershed. Each of these volunteers provide high quality data for natural resources, education, and research applications.

Why participate?

The data you collect locally will:

• enhance the UTRCA鈥檚 water monitoring system and fill data gaps,

• improve our understanding of significant rain events and their distribution after they occur,

• improve our understanding of climate change trends over time,

• improve our understanding of drought,

• improve our understanding of snow distribution in the winter and spring,

• calibrate and verify our hydrology and water budget models, and

• support water-related education programs.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a great way to participate in your town as a volunteer and provide that information for scientific research.鈥� shared Derek Ruthig from Thames Vista Farm in St. Marys.

Derek, and his good friend Frankie the donkey, care for a herd of about 50 cattle. 鈥淚 come out and go for a walk around the farm on a regular basis and it takes about 60 seconds to dump the gauge, measure it, and record it. Just that information and knowing that you鈥檙e part of a bigger program, I think it鈥檚 rewarding and worth it,鈥� he said.

We need you!

We’re looking for more volunteers to help with the CoCoRaHS project, particularly near St. Marys (Wildwood Conservation Area) and the northern part of the watershed. We provide the technology, equipment, and training to set you up for success!

Update (Aug. 28, 2024): Volunteer spots are currently full. Thank you for your interest in participating in this project!

Find out more about Derek鈥檚 experience with CoCoRaHS:

Contact: Vanni Azzano,Community Education Supervisor, Wildwood Conservation Area

Have your say on the UTRCA Lands Strategy: Online Public Survey Open听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) is inviting comments on its new Conservation Areas and Lands Strategy (or Lands Strategy). The strategy outlines our guiding principles, goals, and objectives for the lands the UTRCA owns and/or manages, and sets the direction for our lands for the next 10 years.听This is mandated by the Province, which requires all Conservation Authorities to complete a strategy by the end of 2024.听

We鈥檇 appreciate your input whether you are a seasonal camper, an occasional visitor to one of our many rural Conservation Areas, are part of a recreation club that leases land from the UTRCA,听or any other of a number of people that make use of UTRCA properties.听

The UTRCA owns and/or manages听approximately 6,000听hectares (14,700 acres) of听land and water in the Upper Thames River watershed. Most of this property is听within听the three large multi-use Conservation Areas听(Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood), or in wetlands,听floodplains听and other听natural areas.听The lands were听acquired听under various flood protection and water management projects since the UTRCA was created in 1947.听

People are welcome to go the UTRCA鈥檚 听to read the short Lands Strategy document and provide feedback.听We鈥檙e also looking for input on the UTRCA properties you enjoy visiting. Use the map or Location bar to find a property and answer a few short questions.听

Those who complete the survey will have the opportunity to听win a 2025 Seasons Pass.听

The on-line survey will be up from August 15 to September 15, 2024.听听听

New Storm Water Retention System at the Thorndale Demonstration Farm听

This summer, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) stewardship staff installed a new StormTech storm water retention system at its Thorndale Demonstration Farm. This installation is the newest addition to a suite of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) implemented on the farm to improve soil health and water quality while maintaining productivity. 听

The StormTech system uses hollow, bottomless鈥痗hambers buried underground to temporarily store runoff. The stored water slowly percolates into the soil through a gravel bed. The system is wrapped in geotextile to prevent sedimentation in the gravel bed, and includes an overflow outlet should the chambers reach capacity during high flow events. The intent is to reduce peak flows and overall runoff volume from the site while also providing a water quality benefit by filtering water through the soil profile.听听

The StormTech system is typically used in urban applications, such as underneath parking lots.听 In this project, it was installed at the edge of an agricultural field to collect tile drainage water from five acres鈥痶o test the feasibility of the design鈥痜or agriculture applications. Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) in Thorndale worked with UTRCA staff to customize the design, and generously donated the StormTech chambers for this project. Staff will monitor the system to quantify how much tile water is held in the chambers and how much runoff is reduced during storm events.听

Check out photos and videos from the installation 听

UTRCA is hosting a field day at the Thorndale Demonstration Farm on Thursday September 5th from 10am-12pm, highlighting this and other innovative BMPs implemented on the farm. For event details and to register, 听

This project is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness听

听Contact:听Beth Wrona,听Agricultural Stewardship Technician

Rea Meadow Rises from the Ashes听

In 2021, a controlled burn was set to the Rea Meadow in the Fanshawe Pioneer Village. While it may seem counterintuitive at first, fire helps eliminate non-native and woody vegetation while stimulating plant growth. Since the meadow was planted in 2006 鈥� one of our earliest prairie restoration projects 鈥� 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff conduct a controlled burn every few years.听

Rea Meadow post burn

Nearly 20 years ago, the meadow was planted by students from London鈥檚 Northdale and Stoneybrook Public Schools. They established hundreds of young wildflowers, while a mechanical seeder filled the remaining 0.4-hectare plot. The species planted include Oxeye, Black-eyed Susan, Wild Bergamot, Tall Ironweed, Butterfly Milkweed, Showy Tick Trefoil, Big Bluestem, and Indian Grass. The area had previously been in lawn.听

Once established, native meadows and tallgrass prairies are low maintenance, as they are adapted to local weather, disease, and insects.听听

At a recent visit to the Rea Meadow, we were pleased to see plenty of pollinators like bees and butterflies enjoying the blooms. Pollinators play a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and enable flowering plants to reproduce.听听

A special thank you to the late Dr. Joseph Rea who provided funding for this project through the Joseph Rea Environmental Fund with the London Community Foundation.听

听

Bed-level Crossing Creates a Win-Win for Both the Landowner and the Thames River Watershed

At the request of a West Perth landowner, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff recently developed a plan for a Flat Creek stream crossing that would create a safe and stable vehicular crossing and have a positive impact on the creek. 听

The existing point of access across the creek was a combination of a historic concrete bed-level crossing (completed by the previous landowner) and years of adding field stone in an attempt to protect and maintain the crossing. The result created a significant barrier in the creek that restricted the movement of fish and other aquatic life, disconnecting Flat Creek from the rest of the Thames River. Although the “dam” was only about 60 cm in height, with such a low gradient creek, the impact was substantial. 听

Pre-construction 鈥� Prior to work commencing, a barrier had been created along Flat Creek, essentially restricting all fish and aquatic species movement upstream.

The solution involved removing the aged crossing and stone and using concrete barn slats to recreate the crossing at the bed of the existing creek bottom. Next, stone was used to surround and protect the new crossing and construct a riffle downstream of the new crossing. This created a natural connection through the reach. Staff worked with a local drainage contractor in carrying out the work, which was his first opportunity to do a crossing of this nature. His understanding of the project will hopefully help other clients in the future.听 听

During and after construction: Once completed the new bed-level crossing allows for safe access across the creek during low flow periods.

As the work was being carried out, UTRCA Aquatic Biologist, Erin Carroll, noted, “it鈥檚 very exciting to see fish moving upstream through the new riffle and across the crossing this quickly 鈥� something that they have been unable to for many years!”

Common Mudpuppy sighting 鈥� Although not a rare species, this rarely-seen amphibian is actually a salamander and spends its entire life in the water. As part of UTRCA sampling, the Northern Sunfish, a species at risk, was found along with indications of Spike and Giant Floater mussels. Thirteen other species of common fish such as Black Bullhead, Central Stoneroller, Creek Chub, Fantail Darter, and Greenside Darter were also present in this area.

The UTRCA would like to credit the landowners, Murray and听Monica Elliott, for taking the initiative with this and past projects including conservation tillage and the construction of a water and sediment control basin (2006), improving their septic system, upgrading a wellhead, and decommissioning an unused well on their farm. Without their progressive approach and thoughtful attitude around conservation, these types of projects would not be possible.

Thank you to the Elliotts!听

The completed project

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.

There are more than 5,000 known species of dragonflies, with about 130 residing in Ontario. They are most often seen flying around water bodies, particularly ponds, as their nymphs (young dragonflies, also known as larvae) live in fresh water. Their habitat varies according to the species, though, and some dragonflies are found in dry meadows, only returning to wetlands to lay their eggs.

Like Monarch butterflies, dragonflies will migrate with the changing seasons. Some species fly solo, while others travel in swarms. Dragonflies can be recognized by their long, needle-like bodies with two pairs of transparent wings, and come in many colours, including red, brown, blue and gold. They belong to the order Odonata, an ancient Greek word for 鈥渢ooth鈥�, describing their serrated mandibles (jaws) that they use for catching and eating prey.

Twelve Spotted Skimmer

Dragonflies are not born to fly, but rather they are born to swim. Eggs are laid in still water or on aquatic vegetation, where they hatch and the larvae emerge as an aquatic insect. These nymphs can spend two to four years in the water and molt (shed their skin) several times before they transition to the next stage of their life. Through a process called incomplete metamorphosis, they evolve straight from a nymph to an adult. As they crawl out of the water for their final molt, the nymph鈥檚 skin splits open and the adult dragonfly emerges. After a short rest, it is ready to take to the air.

Dragonflies are an essential part of freshwater ecosystems. In the middle of the food chain, they both regulate insect populations and provide important food to predators. Able to snag prey at lightning speed, the nymphs are prolific hunters and feed on insect larvae, tadpoles, small fish and other aquatic creatures. As adults, they catch insects, such as mosquitoes, midges, moths and flies, with calculated aerial ambushes. While flying, they can snare insects with their feet or pluck them out of the air with their jaws and consume them in flight. In turn, dragonflies are food for several species of fish, frogs, turtles, birds, and mammals.

Dragonflies鈥� unique, two-winged design makes them incredibly agile in the air and few in the animal kingdom can compare to their flying ability. They are considered the fastest insect, being clocked at speeds of over 50 km/hour. They can fly in any direction (including straight up and down, sideways and backwards), hover in place, and make 360 degree turns. Their giant compound eyes, which contain nearly 30,000 lenses, cover the entire head, providing them with nearly 360-degree vision. This finely tuned eyesight brings them continuous information about their surroundings. Due to their amazing abilities, they have inspired new technology, from drones and robots to artificial visual systems.

Widow Skimmer

Dragonflies鈥� outstanding vision and flying skills contribute to their success as predators. They can spot and adjust their flight to intercept unsuspecting prey from any direction and a single dragonfly can eat 30 to 100 mosquitoes and biting flies in a day. They are so efficient in hunting that they have a 95% success rate (compared to lions at 25%), making them the most remarkable predators on the planet.

Thankfully, dragonflies are docile around people and do not bite or sting. In fact, if one lands on you, it is considered a sign of good luck. The next time you are near a wetland, you may want to become a dragonfly enthusiast and spend time watching these colourful insects, a hobby known as oding.

Contact: Brenda Gallagher

Wild Grapes听听

Many people have a love-hate relationship with wild grapes, but love 'em or hate 'em, 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).听 As the name suggests, it is found near rivers and streams or wherever sunlight is available. Their roots hold the soil, preventing bank erosion.听

Grapes lack a strong stem so they depend on the support of trees and shrubs to reach into the tree canopy for light. Grape leaves can form a layer so thick that they prevent sunlight from reaching the host tree or plant, eventually killing it.听 The dead tree collapses from the weight of heavy vines, thus opening up the canopy allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor. The openings create an opportunity for tree saplings that have been waiting in the shade for years, to receive the light needed to grow, thus starting the forest cycle again.听

The tiny, fragrant, greenish-white flowers of riverbank grape bloom in May and June.听 Once insect pollinated and fertilized, the fruit develops, turning from green to dark blue to black with a white bloom.听 Each berry contains one to four flat seeds. The grapes are juicy but sour until fully ripe in late September and October. They are sweetest after frost. The fruits are an important food for a variety of birds including flickers, cardinals and thrushes, and mammals.听 The plant readily spreads via bird droppings.听

People have gathered wild grapes for centuries for the making of wine and jelly, or for eating fresh or dried. The leaves are also edible and are popular for making Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. Indigenous peoples used the juice of wild grapes to soothe coughs and colds.听 The flexible vines are used to make baskets, wreaths and other crafts.听听

Riverbank grape is one of the native grape species used in rescuing the European wine industry in the late 1800s, after a North American root louse or aphid (Phylloxera) was accidentally imported to Europe.听 Native grapes were naturally resistant to the pest, so European vines were graphed onto North American grape rootstock, a practice still used today.听

If grape vines are growing up important trees around houses or buildings, they can be easily cut at ground level. It is best to smother or treat the stump so it does not re-sprout.听 To avoid damaging the tree, there is no need to remove the vine as it should decay and fall away on its own.听

So, no sour grapes here, let's celebrate the native riverbank grape!

Contact:听Cathy Quinlan, Terrestrial Biologist

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 ecological issues, and ensuring regulatory compliance. On a personal note, field sampling provided me with an opportunity to enhance my skill set by learning how to use pieces of field equipment such as sondes and flow meters. Other monitoring programs such as the Dingman Creek subwatershed monitoring project, a year-round collaboration between the city of London and UTRCA, were also performed throughout the summer. This monitoring helps us understand the impacts of nearby development on the health of aquatic ecosystems in areas of interest to both proponents.

This summer, I also assisted with biological surveys of local rivers. From mussel surveys to electrofishing, species analysis provides important data on the status of these populations, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas. Finding Spike mussel shells and Longnose Gars during these surveys was definitely a highlight for me! Furthermore, site visits to UTRCA and partner properties helped me gain a thorough understanding of best management practices in a variety of ecological niches.

When in the office, I entered and analyzed data obtained from the field. Reynolds Creek was one of my specific areas of focus. Using data collected by continuous sensors within the creek, I was able to analyze the effectiveness of routine monitoring at capturing significant ecological events. Through this study, I found that the timing of our monthly sampling in Reynolds Creek aligned with flow events about 30% of the time with most flow events occurring in the spring. Similarly, the water鈥檚 conductivity demonstrated a pattern of increasing during the summer months. Overall, this analysis generated feedback on potential approaches to monitoring that may increase efficiency and effectiveness of the data harvested.

The position of Stewardship Field Assistant with the UTRCA has given me valuable experience with scientific equipment and species identification as well as transferrable skills which have prepared me for future studies and field work as I begin my graduate studies in Environmental & Life Sciences this fall.

Marissa Ingratta
Stewardship Field Assisant