Bed-level Crossing Creates a Win-Win for Both the Landowner and the Thames River Watershed聽
Bed-level Crossing Creates a Win-Win for Both the Landowner and the Thames River Watershed At the request of a West Perth landowner, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff recently developed a plan for a Flat Creek stream crossing that would create a safe and stable vehicular crossing and have a positive impact on the creek. 聽 The existing point of access across the creek was a combination of a historic concrete bed-level crossing (completed by the previous landowner) and years of adding field stone in an attempt to protect and maintain the crossing. The result created a significant [...]
The Incredible Dragonfly聽
The Incredible Dragonfly There is something magical about dragonflies. Evolving some 300 million years ago - long before dinosaurs - dragonflies were one of the first winged insects to inhabit the Earth. Five to 12 centimeters is their typical wingspan today, but fossil records show specimens with wingspans up to 60 cm! Some scientists speculate that high oxygen levels during the Paleozoic era allowed them to reach their enormous size. There are more than 5,000 known species of dragonflies, with about 130 residing in Ontario. They are most often seen flying around water bodies, particularly ponds, as their nymphs (young [...]
Wild Grapes聽聽
Wild Grapes聽聽 Many people have a love-hate relationship with wild grapes, but love 鈥榚m or hate 鈥榚m, they play an important role in our natural environment. There are three species of native wild grape that occur in the Thames River region, the most common being riverbank grape (Vitis riparia).聽 As the name suggests, it is found near rivers and streams or wherever sunlight is available. Their roots hold the soil, preventing bank erosion.聽 Grapes lack a strong stem so they depend on the support of trees and shrubs to reach into the tree canopy for light. Grape leaves can [...]
My Summer with the UTRCA
My Summer with the UTRCA As a summer student in the 糖心直播's (UTRCA) Integrated Watershed Management Unit, I have been able to take part in several ongoing projects. Primarily, I collected water samples from reservoirs, streams, and rivers across the watershed for laboratory analysis under the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network program. This sampling provides valuable information regarding public and environmental health, early detection of ecological issues, and ensuring regulatory compliance. On a personal note, field sampling provided me with an opportunity to enhance my skill set by learning how to use pieces of field [...]
Wet Week in July
Wet Week in July The Upper Thames River watershed has had an unusually wet July. On July 10, the remnants of Hurricane Beryl reached southwestern Ontario, dropping 40-90 mm of rain across the watershed. UTRCA staff operated the flood control dams at Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas to minimize downstream flooding by storing water in the reservoirs. At Fanshawe, the rising reservoir encroached on the campground. A few campers were moved to new sites and some unoccupied sites were closed for the weekend. Harris Park, July 17, 2024 By July 15, when round two of the [...]
Wavyrayed Lampmussel Spotting!聽聽
Wavyrayed Lampmussel Spotting!聽聽 While monitoring fish this July, we noticed something interesting on the river bottom: a Wavyrayed Lampmussel attempting to lure a bass! Freshwater mussels have an intriguing lifecycle which includes a larval stage that parasitizes (i.e. infests or lives on) fish. The larval mussel must attach to the gills of a specific fish species to attain nutrition and to hitch a ride upstream. This is where the lure comes in: the adult female Wavyrayed Lampmussel has modified tissue that resembles a small fish. When its host fish, the Smallmouth Bass, gets close, the female mussel expels her [...]
Conservation Area Summer Events are Underway!聽
Conservation Area Summer Events are Underway!聽 Community Education staff have hosted three events at Fanshawe Conservation Area (CA) so far this summer! The season was kicked off with a Bug Safari event where participants got to explore the meadow for all kinds of cool critters! Following the theme of bugs, on July 4th an evening Firefly Walk was held that had participants in awe while they walked down the twinkling trail. As well, on July 11th staff led a highly anticipated Owl Prowl event, where participants learned all about local owls and practiced different calls. In total, there were [...]
Huron University College Scotiabank Scholars 2024聽
Huron University College Scotiabank Scholars 2024聽 糖心直播 (UTRCA) Community Education staff partnered with Huron鈥檚 Scotiabank Scholars for a third year, offering an intensive high school English credit and breaking down barriers for students from across the watershed. This year, the theme was water. On the first day of the course, students visited Fanshawe Conservation Area where they learned about the UTRCA鈥檚 core missions and challenges. The class enjoyed a tour of the Watershed Conservation Centre and Fanshawe Dam before participating in activities that combined conservation science with the art of communicating that knowledge to the [...]
Celebrating the Summer and Each Other at the Pittock Conservation Area Mid-season BBQ
Celebrating the Summer and Each Other at the Pittock Conservation Area Mid-season BBQ On Monday, July 15, the staff at Pittock Conservation Area (PCA) were treated to a BBQ! Head chefs, Steven Musclow and Elijah Wilson, cooked up plenty of hamburgers and hot dogs. Side salads and summer watermelon were also on the table! 聽 During the BBQ, the PCA staff were thanked for their hard work this summer. Without our incredible staff, operating a campground can be difficult. Their dedication and positive relationships with campers and one another have been amazing! Three awards were also handed out during [...]
Water Wednesdays to Help Source Water Protection聽
Water Wednesdays to Help Source Water Protection聽 Conservation Ontario continues to support the public鈥檚 awareness of one of Ontario鈥檚 flagship programs, Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP), by implementing a Water Wednesdays summer social media campaign. This campaign highlights聽rivers, agricultural practices, and aims to build public knowledge of the program. It includes seven social media posts, shared weekly on Water Wednesdays! Follow along on our Source Protection Region's Facebook page here and LinkedIn page here. Through these pages you鈥檒l learn about where your drinking water comes from and how local municipal drinking water sources are protected. For example, drinking water [...]