Fanshawe Conservation Area Hosts filming for Netflix Series FUBAR聽
Fanshawe Conservation Area Hosts filming for Netflix Series FUBAR聽 The months of July and August are always busy at Fanshawe Conservation Area (FCA), but in 2024, we received an especially unique request. We were approached by representatives from a Toronto area production company to see if Fanshawe Dam and Reservoir could be used for filming portions of Season 2 for the Netflix action-comedy series FUBAR. This series features actor Arnold Schwarzenegger as a retired CIA agent called back into service, as well as Canadian actor Jay Baruchel. 聽After some internal discussion, it was decided that Arnold Schwarzenegger in London [...]
Celebrate the Thames at Lions River Park in Thamesford聽
Celebrate the Thames at Lions River Park in Thamesford On Saturday, October 5 (rain date of October 6) from 10 am to 2 pm, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA), in partnership with the Thamesford Lions and the Indigenous Solidarity Network, will host a free, family-friendly event in Lions River Park. In addition to celebrating and learning about the Thames River, the day will provide the community with an opportunity to enjoy recent park improvements, which include new cap-stone viewing areas, fishing stairs, and native tree and shrub planting. The day will feature the following:聽聽 Lions Club BBQ [...]
Thorndale Demonstration Farm Tour聽
Thorndale Demonstration Farm Tour聽 On September 5, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) stewardship staff hosted a public tour of the Thorndale Demonstration Farm, showcasing the suite of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) implemented on the farm that are aimed at improving and protecting soil health and water quality. The tour highlighted innovative drainage practices including the contoured controlled drainage system, newly installed StormTech storm water retention system, and two Water and Sediment Control Basins (WASCoBs). The tour highlighted聽tree and pollinator plantings as BMPs, and field management practices including crop rotations, cover cropping, and conservation tillage. 聽 Staff shared [...]
The Multi-Barrier Approach: What goes into keeping your drinking water clean聽
The Multi-Barrier Approach: What goes into keeping your drinking water clean聽 In Ontario, most municipalities have the privilege of accessing safe and clean drinking water simply by turning on a tap. This is made possible by unique legislation designed to protect municipal drinking water from source to tap. A multi-barrier approach to ensuring water safety was introduced following the tragic Walkerton, Ontario incident in 2000. This approach aims to keep contaminated water from reaching consumers by implementing multiple layers of protection.鈥犅� The multi-barrier approach involves a combination of processes and procedures to prevent and reduce contamination in drinking water. [...]
University of Guelph Field Tour Day聽
University of Guelph Field Tour Stewardship staff from the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) hosted staff from the Universities of Guelph and Waterloo as well as Environment Canada on Tuesday, August 20th to showcase a number of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) that have been implemented throughout the watershed. BMPs included in the tour were focused on erosion control and included a water and sediment control basin, a grassed waterway, a rock chute, cover crops and windbreaks. The tour started in the Medway subwatershed and continued to two farms owned by landowners who have worked in collaboration with the [...]
World Water Monitoring Day 2024聽
World Water Monitoring Day 2024聽 Wednesday, September 18, 2024 is World Water Monitoring Day and it recognizes the crucial role monitoring plays in the conservation efforts at organizations including the 糖心直播 (UTRCA).聽 What is water quality?聽 Water quality is the measure of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water.聽 What is water quality monitoring?聽 Water quality monitoring is the regular testing and analysis of water sources and their indicators. Indicators include temperature, dissolved oxygen, acidity, salinity, and nutrients. Water quality tests can also look for toxic chemicals like pesticides and metals. Reviewing of the [...]
Join the Community Precipitation Monitoring Project – It’s Easy!聽
Join the Community Precipitation Monitoring Project - It's Easy! Through the Community Precipitation Monitoring Project, you can contribute to community science without leaving your own backyard! How does it work? First, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff will install a simple yet sophisticated rain gauge system on your property. Each day after, you will measure daily precipitation and record the results in the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) online platform. Thousands of volunteers across six countries participate in CoCoRaHS, with over 20 being right here in the Upper Thames River watershed. Each of these volunteers provide high [...]
Have your say on the UTRCA Lands Strategy: Online Public Survey Open聽
Have your say on the UTRCA Lands Strategy: Online Public Survey Open聽 The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) is inviting comments on its new Conservation Areas and Lands Strategy (or Lands Strategy). The strategy outlines our guiding principles, goals, and objectives for the lands the UTRCA owns and/or manages, and sets the direction for our lands for the next 10 years.聽This is mandated by the Province, which requires all Conservation Authorities to complete a strategy by the end of 2024.聽 We鈥檇 appreciate your input whether you are a seasonal camper, an occasional visitor to one of our many [...]
New Storm Water Retention System at the Thorndale Demonstration Farm聽
New Storm Water Retention System at the Thorndale Demonstration Farm聽 This summer, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) stewardship staff installed a new StormTech storm water retention system at its Thorndale Demonstration Farm. This installation is the newest addition to a suite of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) implemented on the farm to improve soil health and water quality while maintaining productivity. 聽 The StormTech system uses hollow, bottomless鈥痗hambers buried underground to temporarily store runoff. The stored water slowly percolates into the soil through a gravel bed. The system is wrapped in geotextile to prevent sedimentation in the gravel [...]
Rea Meadow Rises from the Ashes聽
Rea Meadow Rises from the Ashes聽 In 2021, a controlled burn was set to the Rea Meadow in the Fanshawe Pioneer Village. While it may seem counterintuitive at first, fire helps eliminate non-native and woody vegetation while stimulating plant growth. Since the meadow was planted in 2006 鈥� one of our earliest prairie restoration projects 鈥� 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff conduct a controlled burn every few years.聽 Rea Meadow post burn Nearly 20 years ago, the meadow was planted by students from London鈥檚 Northdale and Stoneybrook Public Schools. They established hundreds of young wildflowers, [...]