P.A. Day Nature School CampÌý

Wildwood Outdoor Education Centre and the Stratford Perth Museum hosted a wonderfully successful P.A. Day camp on January 31, 2025. 20 children from ages five to 12 attended the day hosted at the museum.

TheÌýWildwood team offered a morning of snowshoe skill-building, which included relay games and ended with a 30-minute hike through a beautiful wetland (and Low Impact Development project installed by the UTRCA) on the museum property.

In the afternoon, the museum offered three historically themed activities for the participants.ÌýThe first was a beekeeping discussion and a make-your-own beeswax candle followed by an educational discussion about the indigenous peoples of this area. Kids then learned about the significance of the three sisters and created their very own faceless doll. Finally, the group used the museum's original printing press using items brought from home including t-shirts, flags and posters. Each child was able to print a lovely keepsake of this fun-filled day.

UTRCA ended the program with a fire building demonstration and fire building challenges for the participants. Then we all sat around our firepit and enjoyed marshmallows and hot chocolate together before heading home!Ìý

This day would not have been such a success if it were not for the wonderful collaboration with Megan Patterson, Manager of Education and Programs at the Stratford Perth Museum and one of UTRCA's long-time dedicated volunteers, Danielle Matheusik.Ìý

ÌýFor more pictures, visit ourÌý

Funding Still Available for the Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program!Ìý

The ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) has a new program aimed at reducing phosphorus in the watershed. The Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program supports landowners who implement agricultural best management practices that reduce phosphorus runoff, improve water quality in the Thames River and Lake Erie, while also boosting soil health and productivity on farms. The UTRCA is offering grants for a wide range of projects, including cover crops, reduced tillage, tree planting, erosion control, soil testing, and much more. If you already implemented these practices this past fall, the spring, or plan to do so this year, you’re eligible to apply!Ìý

For more details or to apply, .Ìý

UTRCA Board of Directors ElectionsÌý

The ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) Board of Directors held its annual elections at the January 28, 2025 Board meeting. Brian Petrie, Mayor of Ingersoll, stepped down after completing his two-year term. Den Trentowsky, Deputy Mayor of West Perth and Deputy Warden of Perth County, accepted the position of Chair having served as Vice-Chair since January, 2024.ÌýÌý

Other elections included:ÌýÌý

Vice Chair:Ìý

• Mark Schadenberg, Councillor City of WoodstockÌý

Source Water Protection Striking Committee/Committee Liaison:Ìý

• Sandy Levin, City of London Citizen AppointmentÌý

Hearing CommitteeÌýÌýÌý

• Dean Trentowsky, Deputy Mayor of West Perth and Deputy Warden of Perth CountyÌý

• Mark Schadenberg, City of Woodstock CouncillorÌý

• Brian Petrie, Mayor of IngersollÌýÌý

• Sandy Levin, City of London citizen representativeÌýÌý

• Jim Craigmile, Councillor, Town of St. Marys and Township of Perth South and Municipality of South HuronÌý

Finance and Audit CommitteeÌýÌýÌý

• Dean Trentowsky, Deputy Mayor of West Perth and Deputy Warden of Perth CountyÌý

• Mark Schadenberg, City of Woodstock CouncillorÌýÌý

• Paul Mitchell, Township of Zorra CouncillorÌýÌý

• Sandy Levin, City of London citizen representativeÌýÌý

• Harj Nijjar, Deputy Mayor of StratfordÌýÌý

We would like to thank the members who are stepping down from their board or committee positions for their contributions.ÌýÌý

The 17 municipalities within the upper Thames River watershed appoint representatives to the UTRCA Board of Directors. The members represent the local urban and rural communities, deciding policies and programs that will lead to a healthy watershed. For more information on the UTRCA Board, including meeting recordings visit our website here.Ìý

ÌýUpdating the Southern Ontario Floral Inventory Analysis (SOFIA)Ìý

ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) staff have updated a unique open-source macro-enabled Microsoft Excel spreadsheet called SOFIA (Southern Ontario Floral Inventory Analysis).Ìý SOFIA was written by biologist/ecologist Dan Lebedyk and other staff at the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) a few years ago. It was designed to allow botanists and ecologists to enter floral inventories of natural areas into a system that quickly tabulates, analyzes and automates the information. It generates statistics and charts on the quality of the site, as well as many other indices including wetness and rare species. Ìý

The program contains the provincial vascular plant list, downloaded from the (NHIC) website. The latest version of SOFIA (3.56) contained the plant list from 2020, but the status and names of plants continues to be updated. Dan Lebedyk retired in 2024 and, currently, no one agency is responsible for keeping it up to date. SOFIA is available currently on the Tallgrass Ontario website () as a shareable program.ÌýÌý

The UTRCA wished to see the software updated with the latest NHIC vascular plant list. Craig Irwin, UTRCA Water Quality Specialist, worked with Dan Lebedyk at ERCA in the past and was familiar with the workings of the program and, therefore, was able to make the updates.Ìý He inserted the 2024 NHIC vascular plant list and made the appropriate adjustments to the SOFIA formulas. Ìý

The UTRCA has shared the updated version (version 4) of SOFIA with Tallgrass Ontario to be posted on their website and available to download for free.Ìý It will also be shared with other conservation authority staff.Ìý

Tree Sales for Private Landowners – Order Before March 1st

Private landowners in the Upper Thames River watershed can now order and pay for their trees online at the ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA)'s

Open until March 1st, 2025, this digital format allows landowners to conveniently browse and purchase a variety of coniferous, deciduous trees and wildlife shrubs to plant next spring. As always landowners are encouraged to order as soon as they are able for the best availability as some sizes and species sell out quickly.ÌýÌý

Trees are made available through the Tree Planting on Private Lands program which is open to those who own at least 2.5 acres of land in the Upper Thames River watershed. Projects often include windbreaks, retiring highly erodible land, treed buffer strips along watercourses, or creating wildlife habitat.ÌýÌý

Large stock trees and tree seedlings purchased through the program may be planted using the UTRCA's full planting service or by the landowner. Those wishing to take advantage of the planting service are encouraged to directly before purchasing trees online.ÌýÌý

Of course, UTRCA forestry staff is still available by phone or email to answer any questions, assist with making a purchase, or where necessary conduct a site visit.ÌýÌý

For more information about available tree species and planting services, please visit our .Ìý

Thank you for your continued support and interest in our programs.Ìý

Contact:ÌýRob Davies, Supervisor, Forestry and Restoration or call: 519-451-2800 ext 243.

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