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
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
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
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