Embro Dam Environmental Assessment moves forward听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA), along with Matrix Solutions Inc. as the consultant, is continuing work on the Class Environmental Assessment for Embro Dam within the Township of Zorra. The project is being undertaken under the Conservation Ontario Class Environmental Assessment for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects (June 2013).听听

The Embro Dam is part of the Embro Conservation Area, located on Road 84 in Oxford County, Lot 15, Concession 4. The structure is situated on the Youngsville Drain (also known as Spring Creek) within the Mud Creek watershed. The conservation area is used for passive recreation including hiking, dog-walking, picnicking, etc.听听

Embro Dam was constructed in 1959 for solely recreational purposes. The dam crest is approximately 93 m long, with a height of 4.5 m and a freeboard of 1.1 m. The dam has a small drainage area of roughly 7 km虏.听听

The current Class Environmental Assessment was initiated in 2015 due to concerns regarding the stability of the dam’s embankments and hydraulic capacity of the spillway. A Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report was completed by TMHC Inc. in 2022. A Public Information Centre was held on Monday, January 30th 2023 to share information on the project and gather public feedback on proposed alternatives for Embro Dam. Information from the open house, including details on the proposed alternatives, can be found on the UTRCA website.

Moving forward, possible alternative solutions will be evaluated based on four criteria: technical/engineering, natural environmental, social/cultural environment, and economic. Public input will be also be considered.听听

Contact: Sarbjit Singh, Water Control Structures Technologist听

Visit us at the London Farm Show听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) will have a booth at the upcoming London Farm Show which is running Wednesday, March 8 until Friday, March 10 at the Western Fair District.听

The London Farm Show has been running for over 80 years and is a great opportunity for staff to connect with industry experts, exhibitors, and attendees while gaining knowledge on the latest agricultural innovations and technologies听听

The UTRCA booth will include information about our tree planting programs and , as well as a flooding simulator. There will also be a draw for a 2023 UTRCA Park Pass. 听

For more information, visit

Tree Power returns to London and Stratford听

Mark your calendars! The Tree Power program returns for London and Stratford residents with tree sales opening in March 2023. The goal of this program is to create a greener and more beautiful community by providing affordable native hardwood trees for residents.听

London听Tree Power

Tree Power started in London 11 years ago when the late Bill Kunz initiated a new tree planting program through his work with London Hydro. Bill brought his vision to the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) and the Tree Power program was born. Bill helped build the program with the slogan: 鈥淗arness the power of trees by planting a native hardwood tree in your yard.鈥� The UTRCA is pleased to continue working with London Hydro to offer this program. 听

• Tree orders will open online on March 14, 2023 at 10 am.听听
• Tree pick-up days are Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15.听
• Tree species and further information can be found听

Festival Hydro Tree Power in Stratford听

Festival Hydro and the UTRCA have once again partnered to make native hardwood trees available and affordable for residents of Stratford. The Festival Hydro Tree Power program launched in 2021 and was extremely well received with trees selling out quickly.听

• Tree orders will open online on March 7, 2023 at 10 am.听
• Tree pick-up day is Saturday, April 1.听听
• Tree species and further information can be found听

鈥淭ree Power is a great way for residents of London and Stratford to plant native trees in their yard which will have multiple benefits from reduced cooling costs, clean air, water purification, and improved biodiversity,鈥� says Robert Davies, Forestry and Restoration Supervisor. 听

Oxford Natural Heritage Systems Study Update听

Through a contract with the County of Oxford, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) is updating the Oxford Natural Heritage Systems Study using 2020 ortho-imagery (digital aerial photography). The previous study was completed in 2016 and used 2010 imagery.听

The purpose of the study is to identify existing natural heritage systems in the county, as directed by the Provincial Policy Statement. Natural heritage refers to components of the natural environment that have historic, scientific, or social significance for the community and future generations.听

It is important to update these studies every 5-10 years as the natural heritage system changes slightly over time as young woodlands mature, meadows develop on fallow land, and some features are removed.听听听

The study is a science-based, modeling exercise using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, ortho-imagery mapping, and a set of ecological criteria to determine significance or ecological importance. Digital aerial photography is becoming clearer and clearer. Overlaying older and newer imagery allows staff to map natural features and identify changes more accurately.听

The study will include statistics on the vegetation loss, gain, and change between the 2010 and 2020 photography.听听听听

In partnership with County planning staff, an updated report will be produced as well as an updated digital mapping layer. The study is set to wrap up in early 2023, so that it can be used by the County of Oxford to inform planned updates to the natural heritage system mapping and related policies within its Official Plan.听听听

Contact: Cathy Quinlan, Terrestrial Biologist and Terry Chapman, GIS Specialist听

Woodland cover along the Thames River near Beachville

How Much Water is in the Snowpack?听

Since the 1950s, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) has monitored snow conditions through manual measurements across the watershed.听

Between November and May, snow surveys are completed at the beginning and middle of each month. The surveys result in a collection of data related to the snowpack, including snow water equivalent, snow depth, and ground and snow crust conditions. The program currently monitors 13 sites distributed across the watershed.听

Snow water equivalent is the depth of water that the snow pack contains. This estimates the amount of water on the ground and, when combined with depth, how close the snowpack is to releasing water as it melts. This information, combined with weather forecasts, is used in mathematical models to estimate the extent of flooding that the snow melt and/or rain may cause.听听听

At each of the 13 sites currently being monitored, staff take 10 cores of snow using a calibrated snow tube/corer. Following a straight line, staff collect snow measurements about every 8 ft (10 steps), making sure to avoid trampled, non-representative sections.听听

A measurement is taken by pushing the corer down into the snow vertically until it touches the ground, and taking a depth reading from the surrounding snow against the graduations on the outside of the corer. When removing the corer, staff tilt it slightly sideways before removing it so that the snow core stays inside of the unit. They then dump the snow core into a bucket from the top end. Once all 10 samples have been collected, the bucket of snow is weighed.听听

Based on this information, UTRCA engineers calculate the snow water equivalent and density at each location. The data gathered at each snow course is then stored in a UTRCA database and a provincial government database.听

The UTRCA examines this data for trends to compare any given year to what is normal, as well as to gauge watershed conditions, including whether the ground is frozen or saturated. It also helps track potential changes to snow pack due to climate change.听

Contact:听Jessica Penz, Water Resources Technician

Our Conservation Areas are Hiring!听

In preparation for the 2023 season, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA)鈥檚 three conservation areas are hiring for multiple positions.听听

Hiring is underway for:听

• Conservation Area Maintenance;听听
• Conservation Area Operations;听听
• Conservation Area Security;听听
• Customer Service Representative;听听
• Lake Patrol;听听
• Lifeguard;听听
• Park Operations Technician;听听
• Park Operations Technician – Maintenance;听听
• Park Operations Technician – Security, and听听
• Trails Technician.听

As a member of the UTRCA team, you will contribute to the mission of Inspiring a Healthy Environment through your skills and expertise, but also through your passion for the environment and calling to make a positive impact. You will collaborate with like-minded colleagues to facilitate innovative approaches to the work you do in a supportive, friendly, and connected environment. The UTRCA embraces togetherness 鈥� you鈥檒l know your colleagues, have a great time working together, and feel like you belong here. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!听听 听

“I have had the pleasure of working with the 糖心直播 for the past couple years now. I started out as a Customer Service Representative and immediately felt welcomed from the entire organization. From there I was given opportunities to expand my skills, and gain more responsibility. Working within the parks has given me the opportunity to connect with nature and our community in a wonderful way. From having supportive leadership that helps you reach your career goals, I have found myself working with an amazing organization, doing something I enjoy, and progressing my career both professionally and personally.” – Olivia, Seasonal Employee听

To learn more and apply today, visit听here.

Celebrating Natural Connections event at Wildwood Conservation Area听

On Saturday, January 21, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) hosted a winter Celebrating Natural Connections (CNC) event at Wildwood Conservation Area. There was an overwhelming turnout to the event with close to 700 people in attendance.听听

The park was bustling as participants moved through the variety of activity stations, which included:听

• Aspens Ojibwe Horse Sanctuary听
• Bird Brains – Stratford Field Naturalists听
• Campfire 鈥� UTRCA听
• Community Science (measuring water in the snow pack) 鈥� UTRCA听
• Creative Corner – Klomp鈥檚 糖心直播 and Garden听
• Gear Demo 鈥� Mountain Equipment Company听
• Guided Hike – UTRCA听
• Magnificent Mammals – UTRCA听
• Nature Play 鈥� Perth EarlyON听
• Self-guided Scavenger Hunt听
• Song for the Snow authored by Jon-Erik Lappano听
• Sunset Shack Food Truck听

A huge thank you to everyone who helped out during the event as they were kept on their toes all day!听听

The event was filled with some pleasant surprises including having Loreena McKennitt, a Canadian musician and composer, volunteer to read a story by the fire when the author was unexpectedly unable to attend. Thank you for jumping in and providing a wonderful experience, Loreena!听

We received many comments throughout the day, in person and online, about how much people enjoy and appreciate CNC events. We are glad to know they are enjoyed by the community while also helping to forge several amazing community partnerships.听听

Thank you to the Government of Canada for providing funding for these events. More听

UTRCA Welcomes New Board for 2023

On Tuesday, January 31, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) held a Board Orientation meeting for new and returning board members. The 17 municipalities within the Upper Thames River watershed appoint representatives to the UTRCA Board of Directors, consistent with the board membership established by the 1993 Order in Council. The members represent the local urban and rural communities, deciding on policies and programs that will lead to a healthy watershed.听

Returning members in 2023 include:听

• Councillor Anna Hopkins, City of London听
• Sandy Levin, City of London听
• Deputy Mayor Hugh McDermid, Township of Perth East听
• Mayor Brian Petrie, Town of Ingersoll听
• Councillor Mark Schadenberg, City of Woodstock听
• Councillor Paul Mitchell, Township of Zorra听

New members include:听

• Councillor Debbie Heffernan, Municipality of Middlesex Centre听
• Councillor Jim Craigmile, Town of St. Marys and Township of Perth South and Municipality of South Huron听
• Councillor Harj Nijar, City of Stratford听
• Deputy Mayor Dean Trentowsky, Municipality of West Perth听
• Councillor Scotty Zehr, Township of East-Zorra Tavistock and Township of Blandford-Bleinham
• Councillor George Way, Township of South-West Oxford and Township of Norwich
• Councillor Tom Heeman, Municipality of Thames Centre and Township of Lucan-Biddulph听
• Councillor Peter Cuddy, City of London听
• Councillor Skylar Franke, City of London听

The new board will hold its Annual General Meeting including elections at its next meeting on February 28, 2023. You can find the agenda听here.

A special thank you to departing board members for their time and dedication to the board including:听听

• Chair Alan Dale, Township of Norwich and Township of South-West Oxford听
• Annamarie Murray, Municipality of West Perth听
• Margaret Lupton, Township of Blandford-Blenheim and Township of East-Zorra Tavistock听
• Marie Blosh, City of London听
• Jim Reffle, City of London听
• Nancy Manning, Municipality of Middlesex Centre听
• Tony Jackson, Township of Perth South and Town of St. Marys and Municipality of South Huron听
• Joe Salter, City of Stratford听
• Councillor Alex Westman, Township of Lucan-Biddulph and Municipality of Thames Centre听

For more information on the board, visit听here.

Demonstrating Best Management Practices across the watershed听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) has received funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) through the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA).听听

As part of this funding agreement, the UTRCA will deliver and promote agricultural stewardship practices including:听

• evaluate the economic and agronomic impact of cover crops with field trials to increase cover crop adoption;听
• promote soil rehabilitation at retirement field trial sites and conduct soil health impact assessments,听听
• test an innovative stormwater management technique at the Thorndale听demonstration farm and assess the effects of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on the farm,听
• install a vegetated filter strip for the treatment of effluent from silage bunkers and monitor the effectiveness of the design,听
• assess the economic and environmental benefit of windbreaks of varying ages, and听
• evaluate the effectiveness of new and mature wetlands for flood attenuation and nutrient reduction.听

UTRCA staff will continue to promote projects on social media and at in-person events including upcoming landowner workshops and field tours.听听

The Project is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.听