Community Education Hits the Road: Flooding and Turtles Take the Spotlight听

On May 10, 2025, 糖心直播 (UTRCA)鈥檚 Community Education team was out in full force, participating in two major public outreach events in London: Emergency Preparedness Day and Science Rendezvous.听

At the Emergency Preparedness Day, staff engaged residents with several hands-on tools including the floodplain simulator, flood hazard puzzles, and the Thames River watershed puzzle. These interactive activities helped raise awareness about local flood risks and the Conservation Authority鈥檚 critical role in flood forecasting, prevention, and response.听

Meanwhile, at Science Rendezvous, staff premiered the new Species at Risk: Turtles outreach booth. This engaging display introduced visitors to the eight turtle species found in the Thames River watershed and highlighted the UTRCA鈥檚 efforts to monitor and protect these vulnerable reptiles. Thank you to Nature London for supporting this important work!听

Both events were extremely well attended and provided valuable opportunities to connect with residents about the work the UTRCA does to protect both people and the environment.听

Now Open 鈥� Upper Thames Phosphorus Reduction Program Year 2

The Upper Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Program is now accepting applications for year two with an expanded list of funding categories designed to support practical, on-the-ground improvements. 听

This year, we have added 4R Phosphorus Management which includes up to $15/acre for Crop Nutrient Planning and Soil Testing, and $50/acre for applying manure to low phosphorus soils plus a bonus of an additional $10/acre for those practicing both Cover Crops and Reduced Tillage! Available funding categories include:听

• Cover Crops听
• Reduced Tillage听
• Soil Testing and Crop Nutrient Planning – new听
• Subsurface Phosphorus Placement听
• Manure Management 鈥� Applying Manure to Low P Soils – new听
• Tree Planting听
• Erosion Control听
• Clean Water Diversion听
• Restricting Livestock Access to Watercourses and Wetlands听
• Innovative Action听

Visit the UTRCA and apply today!听

Replacing Dock at Westminster Ponds’s South Pond

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility and public enjoyment of the Westminster Ponds Environmentally Significant Area (ESA), the 糖心直播 (UTRCA), working on behalf of the City of London, completed the replacement of the floating dock at South Pond in Spring 2025.听

The previous dock, which had become undersized and outdated, was removed in Fall 2024. A new, modern floating dock system was purchased from Canada Docks and installed in May 2025. Constructed from durable aluminum and composite materials, the new dock measures approximately 8 by 24 feet and is accessed by a 4 by 16-foot ramp equipped with aluminum handrails. The dock complies with Accessibility for Ontarians Disability Act (AODA) standards and features two benches, offering an accessible and welcoming space for visitors to relax and enjoy the pond.

We鈥檙e excited to provide this improved amenity within the Westminster Ponds ESA and hope the community enjoys this refreshed access point to nature.听

听UTRCA at Western University for Science Olympics听听

This spring, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) participated in the Science Olympics held at Western University. The Science Olympics is a fun and engaging way to learn about subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, and Math through friendly, group competition. Students from grades 9 to 12 from across Southwestern Ontario competed in over a dozen stations against other schools to earn points for prizes.

UTRCA hosted a station called "Freshwater Forensics" where students investigated local water quality issues and considered the connections between land use and watershed health. Through hands-on activities, students explored concepts of rural and urban runoff, species at risk, and biodiversity in our watershed. UTRCA staff from Education and Partnerships also taught students how agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) can reduce phosphorus pollution and support healthier waterways.

The Science Olympics have been a consistent spring event in Southwestern Ontario for nearly 30 years. We are looking forward to participating next year! Funding to support UTRCA's participation in this event was provided in part through the Upper Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Program, funded by the Canada Water Agency.

Walkerton 25th Anniversary听

May 2025 marks 25 years since the water contamination event in Walkerton, a pivotal moment that reshaped how we approach drinking water safety across the province. This anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on how far we鈥檝e come in protecting the sources of our drinking water and to recognize the collective effort that continues to strengthen Ontario鈥檚 leadership in water safety.听

In response, Ontario took decisive action to ensure a similar situation could never happen again. One of the most significant outcomes was the development and implementation of the Clean Water Act, 2006, which laid the foundation for the Source Water Protection Program, a preventative, science-based approach to safeguarding the lakes, rivers, and aquifers that supply our drinking water.听

This program doesn鈥檛 just respond to risks; it works to prevent them. By focusing on the protection of water at its source, the program helps reduce the potential for contamination and lowers the burden on treatment systems. It is one of the key reasons why Ontario is now recognized as having some of the safest drinking water in the world.听

At the heart of source water protection is collaboration. The program brings together municipalities, Indigenous communities, farmers, industries, environmental organizations, conservation authorities, and residents to develop and implement Source Protection Plans. These plans are tailored to the needs of local watersheds and identify activities that could pose risks to drinking water sources, along with policies to manage or eliminate those risks.听

This locally driven model ensures that the people who know the land best are involved in the decision-making process. Over the past two decades, communities across Ontario have worked diligently to map vulnerable areas, assess threats, and build partnerships that protect the health of their water systems.听

Protecting drinking water sources is not the responsibility of any one group; it is a shared commitment. Whether through land use planning, agricultural best practices, or community engagement, every Ontarian contributes to the health and safety of our water.听

As we look ahead, the importance of source water protection will only grow. The work being done today is critical to ensuring that Ontario鈥檚 drinking water remains clean, safe, and sustainable for generations to come.听

Twenty-five years of progress have shown what is possible when communities come together with a shared goal. Ontario鈥檚 Source Water Protection Program stands as a global example of leadership in proactive water management. It is a legacy of learning, a model of resilience, and a testament to what we can achieve when we work together.听

As we reflect on how this journey began, we also celebrate how far we鈥檝e come and recommit ourselves to the work that continues.听

2025 Oxford Children鈥檚 Water Festival a Resounding Success

The Oxford Children鈥檚 Water Festival returned to Pittock Conservation Area from May 13 to 17, 2025, welcoming over 3,500 students for a week of hands-on environmental learning and outdoor fun.

Hosted by the 糖心直播 (UTRCA), the festival offered engaging activities focused on water conservation, environmental science, and community stewardship. Students from across the watershed explored interactive stations that aligned with Ontario鈥檚 curriculum, while volunteers and community groups helped bring each learning opportunity to life.

A highlight of the week was the Family Night held on May 15, which drew an impressive 1,500 visitors. Families enjoyed live demonstrations, paddling activities, exhibits, and food trucks鈥攁ll in a festive, educational atmosphere.

The success of the festival was made possible thanks to the strong collaboration between many organizations including Oxford County, the Thames Valley District School Board, and the London District Catholic School Board, along with the support of dozens of local partners and 600 volunteers.

This year鈥檚 festival was a shining example of community partnership in action, inspiring the next generation to care for their environment and local waterways. For more photos, please visit听

UTRCA Participates in MECP Spills Training听听

If you noticed the bright green water in Crockett Drain in Dorchester earlier this month, do not be alarmed! On June 3, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) hosted a spills response training in Dorchester. This training was held at Dorchester Conservation Area, which is managed by the 糖心直播 (UTRCA). Staff from both the UTRCA and the MECP were present, looking to learn best practices regarding spills that enter into surface water sources. Different sources of spills were discussed including common substances such as manure, oil, and gasoline.听听听

Members from both organizations underwent training on how to safely assess a spill site, which sample containers to use in the event of a spill, and how to collect the samples. Samples may be obtained directly from the stream by placing the collection bottle directly into the water, or via a bucket dropped from a bridge if wading is deemed dangerous or difficult. Fluorescein, a non-toxic bright green dye, was added to the stream to simulate a spill, and samples were then collected. The dye also showed how a spill would travel downstream and disperse.听 听

In addition to water sampling, a demonstration of soil sampling was also included. Soil sampling is important during a spill event to determine how much it has impacted the surrounding ground in addition to the waterbody. Soil sampling can also be used to confirm that a spill site has been properly cleaned and treated. 听

In the circumstance of a real-world spill, all samples would be collected by the MECP and sent to the government lab for analysis. Parameters tested include substances including听E. coli, metals, and nutrients. In addition, field data is collected with a probe to determine factors such as pH, temperature, conductivity, and the amount of dissolved oxygen.听听听

Overall, it was a successful day of hands-on learning for both the UTRCA and the MECP!听听

If you see or suspect a spill or pollution incident, please report it to 听From there you can submit an online form鈥�or call their hotline 1-866-663-8477 and they will ask for further details on the incident.听听

Perth Children's Water Festival in St. Marys听听

The 2025 Perth Children's Water Festival on Sunday, May 25, 2025 was a great success with over 800 people attending. The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) would like to thank our sponsors, community partners and volunteers who helped make it possible.听

Water Festival Organizing Committee:听

• Avon Maitland District School Board听
• Don Gibson听
• Huron Perth Public Health听
• Ontario Clean Water Agency听
• Ontario Federation of Agriculture听
• Pat Donnelly听
• St. Marys Cement听
• Thames River Clean Up听
• Town of St. Marys听

Sponsors:听

• Stratford Perth Community Foundation听
• The Annie and Isabelle Chesterfield Fund and the Jim and Laurel Laughton Family Fund through the Stratford Perth Community Foundation听
• McLean-Taylor Construction, and听听
• St. Marys Cement听
• Don Gibson听
• Hearn's Ice Cream听

Students from St. Marys DCVI volunteered at the activity stations. For more photos, visit our 听听

RT Orr Dam Work Complete听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) has successfully completed the repair and reinstallation of the south sluicegate at the R. Thomas Orr Dam in the City of Stratford.

The R. Thomas Orr Dam was constructed in 1964. It is located on the Avon River, a tributary to the North Thames River, in the City of Stratford. The dam and reservoir are a focal point in the park setting. The structure consists of two gated spillways and a duck-bill shaped overflow weir. Each sluicegate is about 14 feet tall and 24 feet wide, and weighs over 10.5 tons.听

The 2023-2024 Orr Dam Safety Review (DSR) report included a recommendation to "repair and repaint or replace" both sluicegates as a "High Priority" task. Subsequently, the UTRCA retained a contractor to remove the gate and perform necessary repairs on the south sluicegate. The gate was removed and transported off-site in January 2025.听

An engineering assessment was undertaken to identify any structural deficiencies. Various structural members of the sluicegate needed to be either reinforced or replaced entirely. The gate was sandblasted and re-painted. Finally, new gate seals were installed. The gate was transported back to the site and re-installed on May 27, 2025.听

Similar repairs will be undertaken on the North sluicegate in the future once funding is secured.听

For more information, contact Sarbjit Singh, Water Control Structures Technologist

UTRCA Park Pass Program continues听

Once again, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) has partnered with libraries through the watershed to provide day-use vehicle passes for their patrons. Library users are able to "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.听听

An individual who borrowed a pass from the Strive Professional Resource Centre shared their feedback saying, "As a Professional working in the Early Childhood Education Field, we are always looking for meaningful ways for our team to spend time together outside of the day-to-day routine. Using the Park Pass was the perfect opportunity for a team bonding experience鈥攖ook time to walk the trails and reconnect with nature and each other. It was refreshing, inspiring, and reminded us why we do the work we do. We're already planning our next visit!"听听听听

The following locations have been provided with 2025 passes:听

• London Public Library听听

• Strive Professional Resource Centre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

• Municipality of West Perth Public Library听

And a new location has been added this year 鈥� the Woodstock Public Library!听听

*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