April��30, 2026��

For Immediate Release��

Camping opens at��UTRCA's Conservation Areas��

Camping��season��is set to begin��at��the ����ֱ�� (UTRCA)'s three Conservation Areas (CAs)!��Fanshawe��CA in London, along with Wildwood CA in St. Marys and Pittock CA in Woodstock, will officially open for the camping season at 8 a.m. on��Friday, May 1��with the season running��until��Sunday,��October��18, 2026.��

"We're��ready to launch��another busy camping season at��our CAs.��A majority of��our staff from last year have returned and have hit the ground running to prepare for our seasonal and overnight campers.��We've��added a new trail at Pittock and completed some��roadwork��and��hydro upgrades��at Fanshawe.��Road work was also completed at��Wildwood��and a safety boom��is��in the process of being��installed.��We're��looking forward to seeing campers enjoy��these features," says��Damian Schofield, Conservation Areas Coordinator.��

Fanshawe CA has a large lake for boating,��fishing��and sailing, 30 kilometres of trails, recreation programs,��canoe��and kayak rentals, and more.��It also has��a��splash pad and a swimming pool��staffed with lifeguards.��

Pittock CA has��240 campsites including backcountry camping, visitors can take part in a wide range of outdoor adventures. The CA��boasts more than five kilometres of hiking and cycling trails, a popular disc golf course and a splash pad and a swimming pool staffed with lifeguards for campers. Visitors can also take part in a rental program that allows them to borrow canoes,��kayaks��and other sports equipment.��

Campers can enjoy the hiking and biking trails at Wildwood CA, ranging from 1.2 km to 25 km. Park visitors interested in water sports can rent a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board to cruise around the picturesque Wildwood Reservoir. Boating and fishing opportunities are also available. Visitors can swim in the reservoir and campers can also access a swimming pool staffed with lifeguards.��

The��following special presentations have been booked��for campers to enjoy��at��all three��CAs:��

• Scales Nature Park: Saturday,��July��4��

• Speaking of Wildlife: Saturday,��July 11��

• Wild Ontario: Saturday, July 18��

• Canadian Raptor Conservancy: Saturday, August��1��

For more information and to book online, visit:��

• fanshaweconservationarea.ca��

• pittockconservationarea.ca��

• wildwoodconservationarea.ca��

Contact information:��

Damian Schofield, Conservation Areas Coordinator��

(519) 451-2800 ext.��312��

For Immediate Release
April 30, 2026��

Students��Take Action for Lake Erie at Regional Summit��in Sarnia and Point Edward

More than 100 high school students from across the western Lake Erie basin gathered in Sarnia and Point Edward on Wednesday for the Lake Erie Student Summit, a hands-on event focused on building the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to protect this globally significant freshwater ecosystem.��

Organized by the ����ֱ�� (UTRCA) in partnership with St. Clair Region, Essex Region, Lower Thames Valley, Kettle Creek, and Catfish Creek Conservation Authorities, the summit was funded by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.��

The day began with an Indigenous welcome led by Lynn Rosales of Aamjiwnaang First Nation, grounding the event in teachings about respect, responsibility, and connection to water. Students then stepped into the role of citizen scientists, conducting water quality testing—including pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen—with guidance from the University of Windsor’s Real-Time Aquatic Ecosystem Observation Network (RAEON), Water Rangers, and�������’s��Talk Science.��

“Lake Erie is one of the most ecologically vital, and most threatened, of the Great Lakes, and the next generation of stewards is ready to take action,” said Karlee��Flear, Community Education Coordinator with UTRCA. “By connecting them with scientists, community partners, and Indigenous knowledge keepers, students gain a deeper understanding of the importance of protecting our water and Great Lakes.”��

“The Lake Erie Student Summit is a great example��of how education and hands-on experience can inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Through the Great Lakes Program, our government is supporting opportunities that connect students to the Great Lakes and the actions needed to protect them,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.��

In the afternoon, students rotated through interactive activities along the waterfront, including a hatchery tour with Blue Water Anglers, the Monument of the Souls activity with Lynn Rosales, and sessions with community partners such as Tourism Sarnia-Lambton.��

The summit is part of the broader Western Lake Erie Student Summit and Stewardship Project, a year-long initiative that engaged more than 500 students in Great Lakes learning, stewardship, and action.��

Participating school boards included the Lambton Kent District School Board, Thames Valley District School Board, and the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board.��

Media Contacts��

Karlee��Flear, Coordinator, Community Education, UTRCA
fleark@thamesriver.ca
519-451-2800 ext. 254��

Amy Bumbacco, Communications and Marketing Specialist, UTRCA
bumbaccoa@thamesriver.ca
519-451-2800 ext. 331��

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For Immediate Release
April 28, 2026��

The UTRCA Contributes 855.76 Hectares to Canada's 30×30 Project in Partnership with Ontario Nature

The ����ֱ�� (UTRCA), in collaboration with Ontario Nature, is proud to announce the contribution of 855.76 hectares of natural areas and provincially significant swamp land towards Canada's target of protecting and conserving 30% of our lands and waters by 2030, known commonly as the 30×30 target.��

The partnership with Ontario Nature��facilitated��an assessment of UTRCA lands,��determining��that 16 properties will be registered under the Protected Areas designation in the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database. This marks a significant step towards halting and reversing biodiversity loss in the Upper Thames River watershed.��

Notable areas include Harrington Conservation Area (CA), Dorchester CA, and Embro CA. Each of these areas consist of mixed woodland and coniferous plantations��centred��around a small dam and pond. "Protecting these lands through long-term conservation measures supports habitat for species at risk, reduces the impacts of flood events, and provides recreational opportunities" said Brandon Williamson, Land Management Coordinator, UTRCA.��

The full list of properties includes: W.L Dickson Arboretum,��Beachville��Tract, Cade Tract, Dorchester CA, Dorchester Mill Pond, Downey Tract, Embro CA, Fish Creek CA, Gads Hill North and South,��Golspie��Swamp, Harrington CA, Ivey Tract, Kintore Swamp, Lowthian Flats, Shakespeare CA, and Westminster (Dingman).��

This initiative has helped us further reach our vision of partnering to protect and promote��a healthy environment��and resilient communities.��

Media Contact:��

Brandon Williamson, Land Management Coordinator, UTRCA
519-451-2800��ext��296
williamsonb@thamesriver.ca��

Popular UTRCA Park Pass Program Continues to Grow��

The ����ֱ�� (UTRCA)'s popular Library Park Pass program is underway for another year! The UTRCA has partnered with libraries throughout the watershed to provide day-use vehicle passes for their patrons. Library users can "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. ��

The following locations have been provided with 2026 passes:��

• London Public Library����
• Municipality of West Perth Public Library��
• North Perth Public Library����
• Oxford County Library����
• Township of Perth East Public Library����
• Town of St. Marys Library����
• Stratford Public Library��
• Woodstock Public Library��

Visit your local library today to check out a day-use pass!��

*Note: Thanks to the UTRCA's partnership with the City of Woodstock, day-use access to Pittock Conservation Area is free to everyone.����

Local Student Wins Conservation Award at Thames Valley Science��and��Engineering Fair��

This April, ����ֱ�� (UTRCA) Education staff helped judge the Thames Valley Science and Engineering Fair at Western University in London. For the past 10 + years, UTRCA staff in conjunction with the Lower Thames Valley and Kettle Creek Conservation Authorities have judged and presented the Conservation Award to a Junior Division (Grades 6-8) project that best explores the topic of conservation with a local focus.��

This year’s winner was Harry Boyd from Matthews Hall school. For his project,��Renewable Alternatives to De-Icing Salt, Harry investigated whether everyday substances could replace traditional road salt as a��de-icer. Testing a range of alternatives, he found that compost leachate — the liquid that drains from decomposing organic material — showed promising results as a potential ice-melting agent.��

The topic hits close to home for our watershed. Road salt applied to driveways, sidewalks, and streets��doesn’t��disappear when the snow melts — it seeps into the ground, mixing with groundwater that many Upper Thames watershed residents rely on for drinking water. Elevated chloride levels also affect the river itself, posing risks to aquatic life and the broader ecosystem that the UTRCA works to protect.��

Harry’s focus on compost leachate is a clever angle —��it’s��a readily available byproduct of composting that could one day offer a practical, low-cost alternative to a chemical��that’s��surprisingly difficult to remove once it enters our water supply.��

To recognize Harry’s achievement, he received a pair of binoculars and the Conservation Award plaque, which will be displayed at Matthews Hall for the coming year. Congratulations, Harry — the Thames watershed is lucky to have young thinkers like you looking out for it.��

Wildwood and Pittock Dams – More than just Flood Control��

If you are a regular visitor to Fanshawe, Wildwood, or Pittock Conservation Area, you may have seen one of the reservoirs being used for its flood control role – storing water to reduce downstream flooding. Did you know that Wildwood and Pittock Reservoirs have a second, equally important, role: increasing downstream flows in the summer and fall?��

The ����ֱ�� (UTRCA) stores water in Wildwood��and Pittock Reservoirs to reduce downstream flooding due to��snowmelt or��rain, and��uses that water to supplement downstream flows in the summer and fall, to support water quality and aquatic habitat.��

The UTRCA’s engineers follow an annual operating cycle for Wildwood and Pittock Dams. The reservoirs are��at their lowest��(winter holding level) at the start of the year. The low reservoirs��have��room to manage winter floods and to store runoff from snowmelt and winter/spring rains, which is used to fill the reservoirs��to their��summer conservation level.��

Wildwood Reservoir close to winter holding level.

Beginning usually��in late June, the water stored in the reservoirs is gradually released, increasing��flows downstream��to��benefit��water quality and aquatic habitat. Wildwood Reservoir augments��flows��in Trout Creek downstream to St. Marys, and in the North Thames River from St. Marys downstream to London. Pittock Reservoir supplements��flows��in the South Thames River from Woodstock downstream to London.��

Wildwood Reservoir at summer conservation level.

The reservoirs are slowly lowered throughout the summer and fall by releasing more water downstream than is coming��into them��from upstream. By early December, both reservoirs have been drawn down to their winter holding level, which��maintains��sufficient water for aquatic habitat while increasing flood storage for fall and winter floods. This brings the operating season full cycle, ready for whatever the next year brings.��

Read��more about how UTRCA operates its flood control structures.����

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UTRCA Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program����

Across the ����ֱ�� (UTRCA) watershed, farmers and landowners are finding new ways to protect their soil, manage water, and sustain productivity for the long term. Supporting that work is at the��objective��of a new funding program: the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program.������

What does this program offer? Funding towards establishing native grasslands or perennial cover, planting pollinator strips, shelterbelts and windbreaks to protect fields, strategically retiring fragile or marginal lands, and restoring wetlands.��

Reach out to our Stewardship Team to explore��what’s��possible on your property, and how these solutions can be tailored to fit your goals.��

Learn more��on our website.

Tree Planting Season Kicks Off��

The ����ֱ�� (UTRCA) has officially kicked off its 2026 tree planting season. With a strong lineup of funding programs, this year’s efforts are about more than putting trees in the ground –��they’re��about building healthier, more resilient landscapes for the future.��

Across the watershed,��nearly 28,000��trees and shrubs will be planted this spring. Of those, 16,500 will be planted directly by UTRCA crews, with the remaining trees and seedlings planted by landowners themselves. Each planting project, whether a windbreak along a field, a new woodlot, or the restoration of a wetland, plays a role in reducing erosion, improving water quality, increasing biodiversity, and strengthening the long-term health of the land.��

Out in the field, the season is already underway. Despite a cold and wet start, staff have been hard at work, beginning with large stock trees carefully hand-planted across priority sites. As conditions improve, the work will ramp up, with crews shifting into full-scale seedling planting using both hand and machine methods to efficiently��establish��thousands more trees.��

This year, UTRCA is offering a wide range of stewardship funding opportunities designed to make tree planting and restoration more accessible than ever. Through programs such as the UTRCA’s Phosphorus Reduction Program, the Resilient Agricultural Lands Program, Forests Canada’s 50 Million Tree Program, the Oxford County Clean Water Program, the Perth County Stewardship Program, and the Canadian Nature Fund, many projects may be eligible for significant financial support, often covering a substantial portion of the total cost.��

Whether��you’re��considering a small planting project or a larger restoration effort, the support is there, from technical guidance to hands-on implementation and funding��assistance.��

If��you’ve��been thinking about planting trees, restoring a natural area, or enhancing your property for future generations, now is the time to start the conversation. Reach out to the UTRCA Forestry and Restoration Team to learn how these programs can work for you, and how your land can become part of something bigger.��

��Learn more here: on our website.��

Source Water Protection and Private Drinking Water Wells��

On March 25, the ����ֱ�� (UTRCA) hosted a Landowner Workshop for local farmers focused on best management practices. The Thames-Sydenham Source Protection Region was also in attendance, providing water sampling bottles for private wells and sharing information on how landowners can help protect their drinking water at the source.��

If you rely on a private well for your drinking water, it is your responsibility to ensure that your water��remains��safe. Protecting the area around your well is one of the most effective ways to��maintain��clean, safe drinking water for you and your family.��

If you have a private well, visit the Public Health Ontario�� to learn how to properly collect a water sample, find drop-off locations, and access your test results.

How to Protect Your Private Well��

You can help safeguard your drinking water by following these best practices:��

• Maintain��your septic system
  Have your septic system inspected annually and pump your tank every 3–5 years to prevent leaks and contamination.����

• Test your water regularly
  Test your well water for bacteria at least three times per year, or more often if conditions change.����

• Inspect your well annually
  Check for cracks, damaged caps, pooling water, or other signs that contaminants could enter your well.����

• Reduce chemical use around your property
  Use eco-friendly alternatives for fertilizers, pesticides, household cleaners, and road salts whenever possible.����

• Store fuels safely
  Keep fuel tanks on secure surfaces with drip trays underneath to prevent spills from reaching the ground.����

• Conserve water during dry periods����

Responsible water use helps��maintain��your��well’s long-term reliability.����

• Dispose of hazardous materials properly
  Take hazardous waste and unused medications to approved disposal facilities—never dump them on your property.����

• Maintain��natural buffer zones
  Preserve riparian or shoreline buffer areas to help filter runoff and protect nearby water sources.����

To learn more about protecting your drinking water, visit:��

Landowner Workshops Recap��

The ����ֱ�� (UTRCA) Stewardship Team recently wrapped up two successful Landowner Workshops, bringing together farmers, landowners, and environmental partners.��

In Thorndale, attendees gathered for our annual UTRCA Landowners Workshop, where the focus was on “stacking” best management practices and exploring both the environmental and economic benefits. Local voices led the way, grounding the discussion in real-world experience. Farmer and agronomist Curtis��Gartly��shared insights from his fields, while Marilyn and Wayne Flanigan of McCutcheon Farm Drainage addressed one of the most persistent challenges in agricultural: erosion.��

Staff highlighted water quality and successful restoration projects – and outlined the many ways��we’re��partnering with landowners to bring their stewardship projects to life. Adding to the momentum, partner organizations including Forests Canada, ALUS, Thames Talbot Land Trust, and Ducks Unlimited Canada shared funding opportunities available to support everything from tree planting to habitat restoration.��

The conversation continued in Mitchell, where UTRCA joined Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authorities for a second workshop. Here, the focus shifted to landscape projects such as grassland, prairies, windbreaks, wetlands, and reforestation initiatives that not only strengthen farm resilience but also contribute to healthier ecosystems.������

Guest speakers brought these ideas to life. Alanna��Coneybeare��of Conlee Farms Inc. spoke about the value of windbreaks and buffers in protecting soil and crops, while Kate Procter of Bodmin Farms Ltd. shared her experience with wetland creation and transforming marginal lands into thriving natural spaces.��

UTRCA offers a wide range of stewardship funding programs designed to support farmers and landowners in implementing projects that improve soil health, manage water, enhance biodiversity, and build long-term resilience. Whether��you’re��considering a small or large project, UTRCA is ready to help��identify��opportunities, provide guidance, carry out on-the-ground work, and connect you with available funding.��

To everyone who joined us in Thorndale and Mitchell, thank you.��We’re��looking forward to our next landowner’s event.������

��View more photos in our��

Learn More About Stewardship Funding Opportunities on our��website.