Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
1424 Clarke Road N5V 5B9 London, ON, Canada

Same Stream, Different Days (sound on to hear stream) Water is vitally important for all life. Vegetation along streams helps maintain water quality. Wildwood Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Fanshawe Conservation Area Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre

UTRCA FYI November Newsletter here! https://bit.ly/39bEuUr Fanshawe Conservation Area Wildwood Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre

Lots of birds to see, even in late November, at Fanshawe Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Wildwood Conservation Area Hairy Woodpecker, Common Merganser, Blue Jay, Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Carp, Perch, and Bullhead photos taken today UTRCA staff are aware of thousands of fish congregating in a stream that feeds into Pittock Reservoir. Our aquatic biologist heard reports of this happening elsewhere on the Thames this week with Gizzard Shad. Shad will do this if there is a big water temperature change. In the spring it can be fatal as fish are stressed after the winter. At this time of year, fish are generally in good condition. UTRCA has been gradually lowering the reservoir to augment flows downstream in the Thames. We are now slowing the release of water to keep levels higher in the stream where the shad are gathering. Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Fanshawe Conservation Area Wildwood Conservation Area Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre

Give the gift of the great outdoors! Gift eCards now available online for Fanshawe Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Wildwood Conservation Area Click here to purchase Gift eCard https://bit.ly/38YRNao

UTRCA staff are aware of thousands of fish congregating in a stream that feeds into Pittock Reservoir. Our aquatic biologist heard reports of this happening elsewhere on the Thames this week with Gizzard Shad. Shad will do this if there is a big water temperature change. In the spring it can be fatal as fish are stressed after the winter. At this time of year, fish are generally in good condition. UTRCA has been gradually lowering the reservoir to augment flows downstream in the Thames. We are now slowing the release of water to keep levels higher in the stream where the shad are gathering. Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Fanshawe Conservation AreaWildwood Conservation Area

Here are some photos of the sunset and moonset on November 18, 2020 at our conservation areas. The sun set at 5:00 pm and the moon set at 9:00 pm. The moon is in it's waxing crescent phase. Wildwood Conservation Area Fanshawe Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA #sunset #moon

Landowners in the Upper Medway are capitalizing on the opportunity to collect on-farm data to answer questions about the impact of cover crops. Locations throughout the field were randomly chosen to be left with no cover crop (ie. the blocks). This field trial was designed by Veritas Farm Management to account for variability across the field. When the following main crop is harvested, in 2021, yield will be compared between these block locations and the rest of the field to ...determine any impact (positive, negative or neutral) from the cover crop. Special thanks to Dietrich Commodities Inc. and the Clean Water Program. This project was funded in part through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), a five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative. This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change. #covercrops #conservation

Lots to see during fall migration! Fanshawe Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Wildwood Conservation Area #fallmigration Saw lesser scaup, hooded mergansers, ruddy ducks and horned grebe yesterday. What have you seen lately?

The skies over our conservation areas are looking and sounding like fall migration!

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is pleased to partner with the Thames Valley District School Board, Start.ca, and the City of London for the GREEN Leaders Initiative Program in London. The GREEN Program involves students using inquiry-based learning to look at issues from new angles and seek innovative solutions to local environmental concerns. Part of this program includes a virtual tour of London's Greenway Wastewater Treatment Centre. Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre City of London, Ontario - Municipal Government Start.ca Thames Valley District School Board #LdnOnt London Environmental Network

Thanks Witch Hazel! Witch Hazel is a small tree that blooms late in autumn. Witch Hazel gives us much to be thankful for! Witch Hazel was probably called a Wicke Hazel by early settlers because the dowsing end of the forked branch would bend when underground water was detected by the dowser. This practice was shared with the settlers by indigenous people. Dowsing became an established feature of well-digging into the 20th century.... Bark and leaves of Witch Hazel are used to accelerate healing of wounds and to stop bleeding. Witch Hazel is also used in the cosmetic and medical industry for the manufacture of mouthwashes, aftershaves, and skin care products (especially those designed to soothe the insect bites and sunburns). Witch Hazel contains many compounds with potent anti-inflammatory properties, including gallic acid and tannins. Fanshawe Conservation Area Wildwood Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre

Recently, UTRCA staff hung 800 plastic fish on fences at Wilfred Jury School in London, Ontario. Children were surprised and excited to find the fish that they painted! Each student learns about the importance of keeping stormwater clean and where water goes from their schoolyard. Students also paint a recycled plastic fish that is cut in the shape of native fish species. The UTRCA has been sharing the Stream of Dreams program with schools throughout the watershed since 20...15. Thirty schools in the Thames watershed have participated in Stream of Dreams over the past 5 years. Thames Valley District School Board Wilfrid Jury Public School Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre See more

Even the Wild Turkeys were out to see the new bridge on the Lake Trail! #StepIntoNature on this amazing trail! Wildwood Conservation Area #Thanksgiving #hiking

Enjoy the outdoors this Thanksgiving weekend! #StepIntoNature at Wildwood Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Fanshawe Conservation Area #StepIntoNature #Thanksgiving #sun #moon

SHELTER BUILDING! UTRCA Fall Family Nature Series events are FREE Perfect for families with children ages 6+. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Staff will be hosting a Shelter Building Event as part of the UTRCA Fall Family Nature Series on Thursday October 29th, 2020 from 5-6pm.... Free Registration: https://bit.ly/2Huz6QN Meeting Location: Warbler Woods ESA - Commissioners Rd Entrance/Parking (1968 Commissioners Rd W #1952, London, ON) London Environmental Network #ldnont Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre

Thanksgiving is a great time of year to see Great Egrets and Snow Geese at Wildwood Conservation Area Fanshawe Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA #StepIntoNature #Thanksgiving

Thanks for Jess and Sawyer! 980 CFPL News

On Saturday, UTRCA staff hung 800 recycled plastic fish on fences at Wilfred Jury School in London. Children will be surprised and excited on Monday to find the fish that they painted! The UTRCA has been sharing the Stream of Dreams program with schools throughout the watershed since 2015. Each student learns about the importance of keeping stormwater clean and where water goes from their schoolyard. Students also paint a recycled plastic fish that is cut in the shape of nat...ive fish species from the Thames watershed. 30 schools in the Thames watershed have participated in Stream of Dreams over the past 5 years. Stream of Dreams Murals Society

More Family Fun this Fall! Summer might be over, but the fun doesn't have to stop! Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Staff are hosting a Family Campfire Please register:... Pittock Family Campfire (Wed, Oct. 14) Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/utrca-fall-family-nature-series Fanshawe Family Campfire (Thurs Oct 15) Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/utrca-fall-family-nature-series The Wild Westminster Wetland event will take families on a short hike round the South Pond, with hands-on activities along the way. Explore the wild wetland through a new lens by taking a journey through time, investigating what lives in the pond and more! Wild Westminster Wetlands (Sat. Oct 17th) Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/utrca-fall-family-nature-series Fanshawe Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre #ldnont #woodstockontario

FALL COLOUR HIKE Perfect for families with children ages 4-10. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Staff will be hosting a Fall Colour Hike on Sunday, October 25th, 2020 from 1-2pm. The UTRCA Fall Family Nature Series events are FREE and open to the public. Limited spaces are available and registration through Evenbrite is required. Child supervision during the event is also required.... Meeting Location: Westminster Ponds ESA - Wellington Street Entrance/Parking (696 Wellington Road, London ON, N6C 4R2) Date and Time: Sunday, October 25th, 2020 from 1-2pm Register here: https://bit.ly/35gSxEg

The UTRCA is thrilled with the transformation that is taking place at Hodges Pond, with the partnerships created, the number of watershed residents involved in the project, and the potential for improvements in water quality and habitat. Yesterday we planted planting 800 native trees and shrubs to add to the diversity of this natural area. Thanks to the members of the Oxford Trails Council that joined us! This phase is being funded by Gunn’s Hill Limited Partnership and Envir...onment & Climate Change Canada. Thanks to the other partners involved in this project: County of Oxford, Stewardship Oxford, Oxford County Trails Council, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Cowan Foundation, Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund, and Thames Valley District School Board. Oxford County Ducks Unlimited Canada- Ontario Oxford County Trails Council

UTRCA Announces New Funding for Cover Crops! Special thanks to Environment and Climate Change, the Clean Water Program and all of the landowners in the Upper Thames Watershed! #covercrops #cleanwater #conservation

Fall Family Read at Kilally Meadows! FREE A perfect fall outing for families with toddlers and young ones! The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Staff will be hosting a Family Fall Reads Event on Friday October 23rd, 2020 from 10-11am. The UTRCA Fall Family Nature Series events are FREE and open to the public. Limited spaces are available and registration through Evenbrite is required. Child supervision during the event is also required.... Fall Family Read - Friday, October 23rd @ 10am (Kilally Meadows, 816 Windermere Road, London) Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre Fanshawe Conservation Area Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/utrca-fall-family-nature-series

A new boardwalk at Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Environmentally Significant Area! This one is installed at South Pond in Pond Mills and is a wonderful new feature for this loop trail. Parking lot available off of Pond Mills Rd near Bradley Ave, London, Ontario City of London, Ontario - Municipal Government #ldnont London Tourism, Ontario, Canada #hiking #fallcolors

Beautiful sunrise over Wildwood Conservation Area this morning!

UTRCA October FYI Newsletter is ready! Here's a little reading for a rainy day! https://bit.ly/3kwdBxj Fanshawe Conservation Area Wildwood Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is excited to launch the Wildwood Nature School program at Wildwood Conservation Area for fall 2020! This individually registered program is designed to provide safe, nature-based outdoor learning through play and exploration. More Information: https://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com//wildwood-nature-sch Register today: ... Falcons and Fledglings (24 months 6 years & Adult) - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/wildwood-nature-school-falcons- Ospreys (9 - 13 years old) - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/wildwood-nature-school-ospreys-

Scott Gillingwater and Teresa Piraino are creating a wetland on their property in Oxford County. This project is being completed in partnership with the Clean Water Program, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. Thanks Scott and Teresa! Ducks Unlimited Canada- Ontario Oxford County Tourism Oxford

UTRCA Fall Family Nature Series (Free) Calling all families who want to have fun and learn more about nature in their own City! Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Staff are hosting a Westminster Wetland Adventure as part of the UTRCA Fall Family Nature Series on Tuesday, October 6th from 6-7pm and Saturday, October 17th, from 1-2 pm. Register here: Tuesday, October 6th from 6-7pm https://bit.ly/33wYaP0... Saturday, October 17th, from 1-2 pm https://bit.ly/34pjLZ7 The Wild Westminster Wetland event will take families on a short hike round the South Pond, with hands-on activities along the way. Explore the wild wetland through a new lens by taking a journey through time, investigating what lives in the pond and more! The UTRCA Fall Family Nature Series events are FREE and open to the public. Limited spaces are available and registration through Evenbrite is required. Child supervision during the event is also required. Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre London Environmental Network London Tourism, Ontario, Canada CTV London

Thank you for a wonderful camping season! Camping is now closed for the season. You are still welcome to walk the trails and enjoy nature. Thanks again for supporting your local conservation areas during 2020! Wildwood Conservation Area Pittock Conservation Area - UTRCA Fanshawe Conservation Area

Better Late than Never! Tree Power 2020 was delayed by 5 months this year due to COVID-19 London Hydro and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) have partnered to provide trees for Londoners. The Tree Power Program invites Londoners to harness the power of trees by planting a native hardwood tree in their yard to reduce air conditioning use over the summer months. ... Hope to see you again in 2021! London Hydro See more

Attention all: Homeschools, Brownies, Guides, Cubs, Scouts, & 4H groups! Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre is offering a variety of outdoor programs for your organized group at Fanshawe Conservation Area! Book your adventure today! More Info: https://bit.ly/36uCnJM