New accessible fishing dock at Dreamland in Dorchester听

The construction of a new accessible fishing dock at Dreamland in Dorchester was spearheaded by the Mill Pond Committee with work being completed by 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff. 听

This pier was听installed to encourage people to fish from the constructed dock as opposed to having foot traffic along the water’s edge which damages the vulnerable vegetation.听

After further construction, the fishing dock will be wheelchair accessible which allows for more diverse usage among the community. It also provides more accessibility for a greater number of people to appreciate the Mill Pond from a different perspective.听

Staff from the UTRCA built and installed the dock in early September.听

Money was donated for the construction in memory of Ralph and Hazel Woods, Clare and Margaret Demaray and Don听and Audrey Woods by family members.听

“We look forward to seeing families and people fishing听from the dock for many years to come” says Jim Rule, Chair of the Mill Pond Committee.听

Sales Continue for Tree Power 听

Residents of Perth South and St. Marys are reminded to take advantage of the current Tree Power programs. The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) has partnered with Perth South and St. Marys municipalities to once again offer affordable trees to residents.听听

Trees are $25 each. Available species include:听

• Autumn Fantasy Maple听
• Downy Serviceberry听
• Native Red Maple听
• Red Oak听
• Sugar Maple听
• Tulip Tree听听

Tree sales for Perth South are available Tree sales for St. Marys are available 听

Perth South Tree Power tree hand outs are on Saturday, September 30 from 8 am to 12 noon. 听

St. Marys Tree Power tree hands outs are on Saturday, October 14 from 8 am to 12 noon.听听

UTRCA Staff Host OPACA Members at Thorndale Demonstration Farm

In August, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) stewardship staff participated in the Ontario Professional Agri-Contractors Association (OPACA) car tour along with custom operators, farming equipment representatives, and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs staff. The tour included stops at the ADS Canada manufacturing plant, A&L Canada Laboratories soil testing facility, and the Thorndale Demonstration Farm. 听

At the demonstration farm, stewardship staff alongside drainage contractor, Ken McCutcheon, highlighted the farm鈥檚 suite of Best Management Practices (BMPs) including contoured controlled drainage, water and sediment control basins, pollinator garden, block tree planting, and field windbreaks. Valuable conversations were had surrounding the design and implementation of these BMPs, as well as plans for additional features on the property. There was also great interest in the monitoring program currently underway by UTRCA staff to assess the impacts of controlled drainage on storm water retention and runoff nutrient reduction. Thank you to OPACA for including UTRCA in the tour!听

Contact: Beth Wrona, Agricultural Stewardship Technician听

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Turtle Hatching Season Winding Down During the 30th Year of Reptile Conservation Program

Based out of the 糖心直播 (UTRCA), Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) is one of the longest running and most successful reptile research and recovery programs in Canada. With efforts spanning three decades within the Upper Thames River watershed and beyond, many significant milestones have been achieved over the decades. One of these milestones is our reptile nest protection program. With increasing success each year, approximately 10,000 hatchling turtles have emerged out of incubators at the SOARR lab.

This nationally and internationally recognized program includes the research and conservation of a large number of at-risk reptile species. The SOARR program hatches out more endangered turtles than any other facility in Canada, and also assists many other Threatened and Special Concern species.

A brief overview of what the Southern Ontario At Risk Reptile program has achieved since 1994:

• Successfully reversing the rapid decline of Spiny Softshell Turtles along the Thames River.
• Incubating and releasing approximately 110,000 hatchling turtles of seven species.
• Locating and studying the largest known Canadian populations of multiple Threatened and Endangered reptile species, including the Spiny Softshell Turtle, Blanding鈥檚 Turtle, Spotted Turtle and Queensnake, among others.
• Providing training and experience to over 150 early-career biologists and technicians.
• Using the results of research to strengthen protections for reptiles locally, provincially, and nationally, and to draft recovery strategies and management plans.
• Providing expertise to individuals and organizations across Canada.
• Collaborating with community members, landowners, and other organizations to ensure the widest reach possible.
• Reaching tens of thousands of people directly through education programming, and hundreds of thousands through media stories and social media sites.

With SOARR since its inception, Scott Gillingwater, UTRCA Species At Risk Biologist, has spent the past three decades studying and protecting some of the rarest wildlife species in the province. Gillingwater鈥檚 efforts have had an important impact on the recovery of many reptiles at risk.

He has developed new and innovative approaches in species research and protection, and maintains one of the largest freshwater turtle egg incubation programs for endangered turtles in North America.

It may come as no surprise that Gillingwater has made it a life-long commitment to understand, protect, and conserve rare reptiles, both here in Ontario, as well as internationally. 鈥淓ach season we learn a little more, and use that information to better our recovery efforts for species that now depend on human intervention for survival,” he said. 鈥淭his has been one of our top two most successful seasons, and the successes we are seeing in the field provide hope for many of these rare reptile species.鈥�

For the Endangered Spiny Softshell Turtle, the SOARR program has meant life or death for the species in the watershed. For the countless other species positively impacted by SOARR, we are gaining ground but there is much more left to accomplish.

One of the biggest hurdles is consistent, long-term funding. Those interested can provide funding through a tax-deductible donation that will immediately impact wildlife in your own region.

Donate online at

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Facebook:

Contact:
Scott Gillingwater, Species at Risk Biologist
糖心直播
gillingwaters@thamesriver.on.ca
519-495-0400

UTRCA Website Updates听

The 糖心直播鈥檚 (UTRCA鈥檚) website has received some much听needed updates over the last couple of years. The Parks, Recreation and Natural Areas section听has been restructured to make the types of lands the Authority owns clearer. They include the听three large multi-use Conservation Areas (Fanshawe, Pittock and Wildwood), smaller day-use听Conservation Areas (CAs) and Tracts, as well as other UTRCA Lands (wetlands, floodplains,听agricultural lands).听

Day-use CAs听

A watershed map is provided showing the location of the eleven small day-use CAs and Tracts听within the UTRCA. There is a webpage for each CA and/or Tract that includes a description of the site,听its history, management partners, a list of permitted activities, facilities, address, photos, etc.听Some familiar places include the Cade Tract, Dorchester CA, Shakespeare CA, Harrington CA and the听WL Dickson Arboretum.听

Wetlands听

Seven wetland properties are highlighted in this section. A watershed map shows the general听location of these wetlands including Dorchester Swamp, Ellice and Gads Hill Swamps, and听Golspie Swamp. For each wetland property there is a brief description of the plants and听animals, the history of acquisition, and the role the wetland plays in conserving biodiversity,听surface and groundwater protection, flood attenuation and carbon sequestration and storage.听Photos highlight the beauty of these sites. Most of the wetland properties are closed to the听public except for hunting.听

Bird Watching听

A new section on Bird Watching has been added to highlight the role UTRCA lands can offer bird听watchers. It also directs interested people to the watershed鈥檚 many naturalist clubs and other听resources.听

It is hoped that听these changes make it easier for the public to explore some new lands and to better听understand the UTRCA鈥檚 role in conservation.听

The Cade Tract

– Cathy Quinlan, Terrestrial Biologist听

Thames Valley Trail Association Anniversary听

The Thames Valley Trail Association (TVTA) will hold its 50th Anniversary Celebration at Fanshawe Conservation Area on September 23 and 24, 2023. Members will gather for hikes, keynote addresses, an Indigenous Water Blessing, and plenary discussions on such topics as invasive species, trail management, volunteer recruitment, extreme weather challenges and much more.

On Saturday evening the TVTA invites everyone to their celebration gala dinner, which will include a keynote address by Canadian explorer and adventurer, Adam Shoalts.听

More information below:

• TVTA Gala Invitation