Creating a Buzz with New Pollinator Factsheets

To meet the growing interest in, and concern about, our native insect pollinators, UTRCA staff have produced two colourful factsheets and a pull-up display.

The first factsheet, Introducing Native Insect Pollinators, explains why these insects are essential to natural and agricultural ecosystems, the types of insects that do most of the pollinating, and how insects pollinate flowers. There is also information on why insect populations are declining and what people can do to help.

The second factsheet, Attracting Butterflies to your Garden, outlines the essentials of providing food, water, habitat, and host plants.Ìý There is information on where to build Ìýyour garden and what features to include. You will also find lists of recommended native and horticultural flowers favoured by butterflies, as well as host plants for butterfly larvae.

Finally, a Native Insect Pollinators pull-up display was created to display at community events. Staff will be attending Celebrate Nature, a pollinator event in Middlesex Centre, on June 17^th at the Komoka Community Centre.

All of the factsheet information is available on our website at www.thamesriver.on.ca/watershed-health/

Contacts:
Cathy Quinlan, Terrestrial Biologist
Brenda Gallagher, Forestry Technician (Vegetation Specialist)

StratfordÌýAll-Wheels Park LID ProjectÌý

The ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) partnered with the City of Stratford to implement an All-Wheels Park Low Impact Development (LID) Project to address an existing drainage issue in the city’s skate park. After a rainfall, sections of the park as well as the all-wheels ramps would be inaccessible due to the standing water caused by the rain. To address this, the LID project included three rain gardens totaling 125 square metres along with improved grading to capture the runoff into the rain gardens. Ìý

The crew responsible for creating the rain gardens.

After the rain gardens were created, native wildflowers were planted by students from Stratford District Secondary School to create habitat for a variety of pollinators. The project will also include a community education component to explain the function of the rain gardens and the benefits of using LIDs as a natural and effective solution to stormwater control. Ìý

The finished product with native plantings.

Funding for this project was provided by the Government of Ontario, Optimist Club of Stratford, City of Stratford Energy and Environment Committee, the Stratford Civic Beautification and Environmental Awareness Committee and the Stratford District Secondary School Eco Club.

Improvements to Kains Woods ESA Ìý

In May, ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) staff constructed a new boardwalk in Kains Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) off Shore Road in London. This was to reroute the existing managed trail around severe erosion that was causing the existing boardwalk to collapse.Ìý

Staff had been monitoring the erosion for several years and, without the ability to bring in heavy machinery to restore the eroding bank, options were very limited. Staff decided to reroute the trail and rebuild the boardwalk at a safe distance from the eroding bank. They are now exploring the potential for live cut stakes and other vegetation to be planted that may slow any further erosion.Ìý

Trail users have been enjoying the new boardwalk for a few weeks now.Ìý

The UTRCA has an ongoing agreement with the City of London to manage Kains Woods and 11 other ESAs throughout the city. The management of these areas and associated projects are funded through the City of London.

Download the Kains ESA Pamphlet.

Rollout of the 2022 Watershed Report CardsÌýÌý

With the completion of the 2022 ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) Watershed Report Cards in March, 2023, staff have been spreading the word far and wide about the findings.Ìý The launch began with a ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥, with good uptake from local newspapers, radio stations and other platforms.Ìý Staff also conducted Ìý

Print copies were distributed to watershed libraries and are still available.Ìý Mass emails were sent to numerous agencies, municipalities, environmental groups, educators, First Nations and other stewards of the upper Thames River watershed.Ìý The emails included a summary of findings and a link to the UTRCA website.Ìý New website features include an and , making learning about the watersheds more fun.ÌýÌýÌý

Presentations have been given to environmental advisory committees of several municipalities, Friends of Groups, nature clubs and other organizations.Ìý The report cards were also highlighted at Earthfest and the Children’s Water Festival during the public night event.Ìý

Craig Irwin collecting water samples

Key FindingsÌý

The grades for surface water quality range from C to D in the 28 subwatersheds.Ìý Since the previous report cards in 2017, water quality scores have improved in five subwatersheds, remained steady in 21, and declined in two. The overall surface water quality grade has remained steady since 2012, averaging a D across the UTRCA watershed.Ìý

The grades for forest conditions range from C to F, with D being the most common grade.  Eleven subwatersheds showed slight improvements, mainly due to young tree plantations that have reached maturity, while 13 were steady, and four had slight declines. Overall, the upper Thames River watershed has 11.3% forest cover, which is a D grade.Ìý

In addition to grades, the report cards also provide a great deal of information on the features of the subwatersheds including groundwater, soils, population growth, watercourse type, and fish species.Ìý A list of actions for improvement and highlights of progress since 2017 is provided.ÌýÌýÌý

The report cards are available on our website.

Contact: Cathy Quinlan, Terrestrial Biologist and Craig Irwin, Water Quality Specialist Ìý

UTRCA hosts London-Middlesex Children’s Water FestivalÌý

This May, the ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) hosted the London-Middlesex Children’s Water Festival. Over the four days of the festival, students in grades two through fiveÌýcame to Fanshawe Conservation Area for a fun and educational field trip to learn about the importance of water in their daily lives.ÌýÌý

This year, we had record registration, with requests for over 11,000 students to attend the festival!ÌýBecause of this enthusiastic response, we were able to accept more students than we ever have, welcoming 1,000 aÌýday with 4,069 students over the entire festival. The festival relies on volunteer support from theÌýcommunity and, with record numbers of students in attendance, we had 200 volunteers on each day ofÌýthe festival! We were very fortunate to have students from the Thames Valley District School Boards’s grade 10 H3ELP programÌývolunteering each day of the festival.ÌýÌý

This year, students were able to choose from 54 different activity stations, all based on one (or more!) ofÌýfive themes: Water Attitude, Conservation, Science, Protection, and Technology. Activities ranged inÌýcontent, from learning about water flow in bathroom fixtures to aquatic creatures in our watershed toÌýhow water is used around the world.Ìý

On Thursday, May 11, we extended the invitation to the public, hosting a free family night at the WaterÌýFestival. Over 3,800 people were in attendance participating in activities such as water festival stations,Ìýcanoeing, wetland origami, boat painting, community art, story walk, drumming, seed planting, birdÌýfeeder building, book readings, Police marine unit vehicle displays, live reptile and birds of prey shows,Ìýface painting and more!Ìý

The Children’s Water Festivals are fully fundraised each year and rely on both generous volunteer and financial support from the community. Thank you to all our volunteers and sponsors for helping ensure the 2023 festival was a success!Ìý

Great Lake SponsorsÌý

City of London, London District Catholic School Board, Thames Valley District School Board, and Upper Thames River Conservation Area.Ìý

Watershed SponsorsÌý

Drumbo Tent Company Limited, Lake Huron and Elgin Area Primary Water Supply System, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc., Oxford Children’s Water Festival, and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.Ìý

River SponsorsÌý

GM Cami Assembly, Huron Tractor, Kettle Creek Conservation Authority, LMac Community CPR, London Children’s Museum, Marshall’s Pasta Mill, Middlesex-London Health Unit, Ontario Clean Water Agency, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Oxford Coalition for Social Justice, Unifor Local 88, and YMCA of Southwestern Ontario.Ìý

For more information about the Children’s Water Festival, visit the or contact Linda Smith, Community Partnership Specialist and Water Festival Coordinator.Ìý

Learning in and with NatureÌý

How incredible to think that Fanshawe and Wildwood Education staff have been offering Nature School at the ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) for three years now! TheÌýNature School programsÌýprovide opportunities for participants to spend time in and with nature using the principles of Forest and Nature School. These principles,Ìýshared by staff that are trained Forest and Nature School Practitioners,Ìýfocus on providing repeated outdoor experiences that are led by the children participating, and both play and place based.Ìý

In the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023, Child and Caregiver programs were provided at both Fanshawe Conservation Area (Owls andÌýOwlets) and Wildwood Conservation Area (Falcons andÌýFledglings). These programs not only suit toddlers very well, as they like to explore everything, but also inspire educators and caregivers to embrace the wonder of outdoor learning. It’s always so lovely to see a child’s discovery or hear the joy of an observation, knowing that both have a purpose and connection to nature that can’t be taught! Ìý

Wildwood was also able to offerÌýa full dayÌýdrop off Eagles program, that consisted of an equal number ofÌýhome school and public school participants. Both the fall and springÌýEagles groups took to adventure and risky playÌýlike no others before! Many participants returned session after session creating in them a comfort and sense of place where they felt grounded and able to test the boundaries a little more each time. Of course, all of this was done under the watchful eye of educators who worked hard to allow for taking thoughtful chances and making safe decisions while spending time in nature.Ìý

New thisÌýyear, Wildwood started offeringÌýHawks programming onÌýAvon Maitland and Huron PerthÌýSchool Board Professional Development days. This was a huge success and allowed participants, who might notÌýotherwise have a chance to experienceÌýNature School, an opportunity to spend a day in nature. Participants came together for the day to play and learn about best practices for educating while spending time in nature! Ìý

Education staff look forward to many more years of providingÌýaÌýsafe space for children toÌýdevelop a deeper positiveÌýrelationship with the natural world.Ìý

For information on our programs visitÌýhere.

UTRCA hosts Perth Children’s Water FestivalÌý

The ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) Perth Children’s Water Festival provides a hands-on learning environment for families from Perth County to discover the importance of water in their lives and communities. It is a fun and educational event that focuses on learning about water based on five themes: Conservation, Protection, Science, Technology and Attitude. Ìý

After a successful inaugural Perth Children’s Water Festival community event in Stratford last year, this year’s event was held at Lion’s Park in Mitchell on Sunday, May 28. More than 500 people attended and participated in the 25 stations set up throughout the park. The organizing committee was very pleased with the turnout and is excited to bring the festival to Listowel next year.ÌýÌý

The organizing Committee consisted of representatives from the UTRCA, Municipality of West Perth, Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB), Huron Perth Catholic District School Board, (HPCDSB), RBC Wealth Management Dominion Securities, City of Stratford, Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH), Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), Stratford Perth Museum, Perth Care for Kids, and the Rotary Club of Mitchell.Ìý

The Perth Children’s Water Festival would like thank all of the sponsors of the event. Without their generous financial support, the festival could not be possible.Ìý Festival sponsors included: ACE Hardware, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, Bert Vorstenbosch, BJ’s Dairy Bar, City of Stratford, Cook-Rees Foundation Memorial Fund, Faddis Concrete, LAUNCH Waterloo, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, Perth County Ontario Provincial Police, Optimist Club of Mitchell, RBC Community Fund, Tim Horton’s Mitchell, and Walther’s IDA Pharmacy.

Rotary Club of St. Marys Tours Wildwood DamÌý

On May 15th, ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) staff hosted members of the Rotary Club of St. Marys for a tour of Wildwood Dam. Members were very impressed with the size of the structure, its function and the maintenance required to keep it operational. Many remembered the area before the dam was built and knew former landowners.Ìý

Collecting Climate Data to Predict Water Level Conditions

The ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥’s (UTRCA) Water Information Management unit monitors many sources of climate and hydrometric (standardized water quantity and information) data in order to predict future water level conditions, including water levels, estimated discharge rates, rainfall rates and cumulative totals, snow depth and water equivalents (the amount of water required to consume the same amount of heat as a substance consumes for one degree rise in the temperature). The UTRCA maintains six climate stations as well as 21 rainfall rate precipitation gauges across the watershed.Ìý

Culminative rainfall is collected in weighing gauges, which are large buckets that use weight-based technology to measure the amount and intensity of precipitation. Staff empty, clean and prepare the equipment each spring and fall to make sure it is functioning properly.ÌýÌý

Ìý

The rate of rainfall is measured with tipping buckets. Staff clean and calibrate them twice a year to ensure we are getting accurate data of how quickly rain is falling on the landscape. Tipping buckets funnel water into smaller buckets that tip from one side to the other as they fill. This flips a switch that counts how many times the bucket tips. This number is calibrated such that each tip is equivalent to 0.2 mm of rain.Ìý These gauges can also be used to estimate accumulated rain in non-winter months.ÌýÌý

We also have other sensors at some of our stations that monitor wind speed, wind direction, snow depth, air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure as well as other parameters. All of this data helps us with flood forecasting and warning, low water responses, climate change monitoring in our watershed, and field work planning.ÌýÌý

Spring Tree Planting Season for 2023Ìý

The UTRCA forestry crew had another busy but successful tree planting season with 37, 544 treesÌýplanted and distributed. About 55 landowners took advantage of the UTRCA planting services to create windbreaks, buffers along water courses, and forests in the watershed. In addition to the crew’s efforts, another 150 landowners planted on their own to increase and restore natural ecosystems on their property.ÌýThe weather this spring was not always cooperative, making for interesting planting conditions.ÌýThe crew began the week after Easter, which turned out to be very warm, and the staffÌýbecame concerned when the buds on the large hardwoods began to break. Fortunately, theÌýfollowing week brought cooler temperatures. Both the trees and planters were happier andÌýmost of the hand planting sites were completed by the end of the month. Rain came the firstÌýweek of May making it difficult for the machine planter to access the planting sites. However,Ìýonce the ground dried out, it was full steam ahead and the trees went in quickly. We are nowÌýhoping for a wetter forecast to give the trees a good start in their new home.

UTRCA forestry staff will soon start site visits to begin lining up sites for the 2024 spring treeÌýplanting season. We look forward to connecting with new landowners as well as continuing toÌýwork with those from the past. Those interested in carrying out a project on their property for 2024Ìýare encouraged to reach out soon to arrange a site visit. Grants are available for seedling projects andÌýare anticipated to be upwards of 90% in 2024 thanks to our funding partners. If you are interested, please complete this:Ìý

Contact: Brenda Gallagher, Forestry TechnicianÌý