Latest news with #UpperThamesRiverConservationAuthority
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
London-area conservation officials warn: Don't get burned by giant hogweed
With summer around the corner and more people heading outdoors, London-area conservation officials are warning the public to be wary of an invasive plant that poses serious health risks. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is urging residents to stay vigilant as it ramps up efforts to manage giant hogweed, a toxic plant commonly found along waterways, roadsides and ditches. In a public notice, the agency called it 'one of Ontario's most dangerous invasive species.' Native to southwest Asia and introduced as a garden ornamental, giant hogweed can grow up to five metres tall and is becoming more common across southern and central Ontario. Its caustic sap can cause severe, long-lasting, and sometimes irreversible harm. 'All parts of the plant – stem, roots, leaves, even flowers – hold phototoxic sap,' said Brandon Williamson, the conservation authority's land management coordinator. Severe burns can occur when sap on the skin is exposed to sunlight as UV rays activate harmful compounds. 'If you're one of the unlucky ones who has a severe reaction to hogweed sap . . . you can get extremely severe burns (and) blistering. You can get heavy purple blotching on your skin that can last for years,' Williamson added. Symptoms typically appear within 48 hours and may result in long-term sensitivity to sunlight. Williamson said giant hogweed's clear, watery sap can even cause 'temporary and even permanent blindness' if it comes into contact with the eyes. As of May 20, conservation staff had already logged more than 120 hours treating about 47 hectares of conservation authority-owned property along the Thames River, according to the public notice. The work also helps protect native species, which giant hogweed can easily outcompete. Although the plant is more prevalent in some places – such as in the northern part of the watershed – Williamson said it's hard to say whether the problem is growing. In the Killaly area of northeast London, for example, the presence of hogweed has remained steady over the past 15 years. However, Williamson noted giant hogweed's ability to spread and 'move around' if it isn't managed. 'Because of how giant hogweed distributes its seeds and pops up across the watershed, if one landowner does a lot of work on their property and gets ahead of it, but the adjacent landowners upstream do not, then those seeds will go downstream and start to germinate and populate that area,' he said. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority stated that appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn while managing giant hogweed. bwilliams@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Biologist warns proposed provincial changes will erode conservation efforts
For the first time in likely a century, the endangered spiny softshell turtle population increased in 2024 along the Thames River, largely due to the efforts of conservationists like Scott Gillingwater. Gillingwater, species at risk biologist for the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), told the Times that last year the Southern Ontario at Risk Reptiles (SOARR) program hatched and released more than 10,000 native turtles into the region. To put that number into context, it's estimated that there are between 2,000 and 2,500 adults in Canada. Although that is a huge amount released locally, Gillingwater clarified that only 0.1 to five per cent will survive to maturity. The program also located, assessed, and protected dozens of endangered turtles and snakes, built new nesting, basking, foraging, and cover habitats, and installed roadside fencing to reduce reptile mortality, among other conservation efforts. Gillingwater said that the population has not reached the same level that it was at when he started at the UTRCA 32 years ago and there is much more still to do; however, recent provincial legislative changes has him worried about the prospects of native turtles and all native animals at large. On April 17, the Province of Ontario introduced the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, legislation that would 'cut the red tape and duplicative processes that have held back major infrastructure, mining and resource development projects,' according to a news release. 'The days of making proponents wait years for approvals and permits are over,' Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, said in that same release. 'We can and will build the Ontario of tomorrow in a way that protects the environment and protects jobs.' While the legislation focuses on energy and mine development, it would also make amendments to the Endangered Species Act (once touted as the 'gold standard' of conservation legislation) and eventually would repeal and replace it altogether with the Species Conservation Act. In its proposal, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks said that the Endangered Species Act makes the permit process 'slow and complex, causing unnecessary delays and costs for housing, transit, and critical infrastructure.' Chiefly, the new legislation to replace it would give the government the ability to use its own discretion to add endangered and threatened species to the protected list (and could also remove species from the list) and it would redefine protections and the habitats of animal species. No longer would the avenues species use to migrate, look for food, and winter be protected under the new act, rather only their den would be protected. 'That makes it very difficult for protection of areas where these animals are traveling to move between summer and winter sites where they're feeding,' Gillingwater said. 'And also, we are still studying these species to fully understand them, and this habitat will be lost before we can say where these animals are, where these animals need to be in five years, 10 years, 100 years, due to changes in the environment. … There're so many concerns about how this act is being currently set out. 'We once had the gold standard for species protection in Ontario and that legislation has continuously been amended and weakened and had the teeth taken out of it,' Gillingwater went on to say. '… What we need now – under the current state of our affairs, with our world, with our climate – is better species protection. And that goes for not only species at risk, but all of our wildlife and wild spaces in general. And it's quite surprising that in this day and age that we are taking steps back. We are losing decades of progress by weakening these types of legislation.' The Species Conservation Act would also create a new program to support voluntary activities that will assist in conservation and would increase investment into conservation, up to $20 million a year. As Gillingwater said, he does not believe that is commiserate to the erosion of species protections. 'We need more protection for these species, not less, not weakening of legislation, and we need more funding to do this work,' Gillingwater said. 'So that amount of funding should have been put forward without reducing protections to species at risk. Sure, additional funding is great, but if you're reducing protections you're going to need far more, tenfold more, than what is being presented.' When asked if he has hope for 2025 and beyond, Gillingwater said he has been working in the region for 32 years, since the mid-90s, and he's seen it all. Throughout that time, he has identified as either an optimistic pessimist or a pessimistic optimist. 'I will say that the pessimism it starting to creep up a little higher than my optimism,' Gillingwater said. 'I still have hope.' The consultation period for the proposed Species Conservation Act, where residents can submit a comment to the province, ends on May 17. Residents can find more information here: .
CBC
26-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
London environmentalists say Ontario's mining push puts endangered species at risk
One environmentalist points to a 2021 audit that said Ontario should do more to protect wildlife Environmentalists in London and across the province say the Ontario government's push to cut so-called red tape to speed up the development of mining and construction projects could have dire consequences for endangered species. Particularly concerning aspects of this push are moves that, according to researcher and environmental activist Brendon Samuels, weaken environmental protections in the name of short-term economic gain. "Yes, we are in the trade war, and yes, there are major economic implications. We also need to develop certain industries and housing," said Samuels, who recently completed his PhD in biology from Western University. "But, protecting the environment and protecting species from going extinct, according to the government's own legal mandate, is not contrary to any of those objectives." Premier Doug Ford's government announced Bill 5 last Thursday, promising the bill would speed up the development of mines and increase the province's ability to quickly approve other projects in the name of bolstering Ontario against economic threats from the United States. Its main function is allowing the province to designate areas of interest as "special economic zones" that enjoy quick project approvals and aren't subject to the same rules and regulations as other areas. One such zone is the Ring of Fire, a massive area in northern Ontario said to be replete with critical minerals. Ford said other big projects could receive similar designations, including his plan to build a massive transit and traffic tunnel under Highway 401. On top of allowing the designation of these special zones, the bill would repeal the Endangered Species Act, and replace it with the Species Conservation Act, which environmental groups like Ecojustice and Wilderness Committee claim weakens protections for species at risk. Neither of those moves sits right with Samuels. "We're being told that, once again, we have to remove red tape because we're in a crisis, and so that necessitates us removing protections for the environment. That's not true," Samuels said. Near the top of his list of concerns is a belief that the Species Conservation Act will be more lenient than protections currently in place, especially with how it defines an animal habitat. The new law would narrow the definition to only include the dwelling of an animal and that space's immediate vicinity. "What [that's] saying is, 'We're only going to protect this species in a tiny bubble, and that's it,' but we know from many decades of studying species at risk that they move around. It doesn't align with science," Samuels said. The change in that definition concerns Scott Gillingwater as well. Gillingwater is a species-at-risk biologist for the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. He said the work he does in the London area could be impacted by the shifting definition. He said he's sad to see the Endangered Species Act go, calling it the gold standard for conservation laws around the world. "In these areas the habitat is so important and has already been so heavily impacted. We see any future compromises as very detrimental to the species, especially here in Southwestern Ontario," Gillingwater said. One species he's particularly concerned about is the Blanding's turtle. Easily identified by its yellow throat and lower neck, it's seen its habitat shrink rapidly and oftentimes shows up in spots that prevent development under current regulations. With the changing conservation law and the creation of special economic zones, Gillingwater and Samuels both worry species like this could be even more vulnerable. Samuels said he believes the changes would create a regulatory environment that is reactive rather than proactive. "Instead of a developer wanting to do something that could affect an endangered species needing to get permission before they proceed, they could get immediate approval to do what they want," Samuels said. "Then, if there's any issues, we'll find out about that after the fact. By that point, harm will likely have already been done." Responding to a request for comment on environmental concerns surrounding Bill 5, the Ministry of the Environment issued a written statement. "Through our government's proposed Species Conservation Act, we are focusing protection efforts where they will have the most impact," the statement reads. The statement says the act will be supported by "an enhanced Species Conservation Program, which will see funding more than quadrupled to $20 million each year for on-the-ground projects that directly support efforts to conserve and protect listed species." It also claimed the government is strengthening enforcement by implementing new powers to let project sites be inspected without warrants.
CBC
02-04-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Rain and freezing rain on the way for London region
If you wanted warm patio weather and some sunshine to get you through Wednesday, get back under the covers and don't come back out for a bit. Environment Canada has issued rain and freezing rain warnings, while the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority says the Thames River could crest on Thursday afternoon in upstream areas and early Friday in London. "We're expecting some decent rain today and into tonight," said Brian Owsiak, an Environment Canada meteorologist. "The significant amount of rainfall at this time of year warrants a rainfall warning. We'll have 10 to 20 mm of rainfall today and then probably another 20 to 30 mm overnight." Most of the rain will happen in the evening and will ease up overnight, Owsiak said, with some evening thunderstorms possible. Later this morning, there could also be some freezing rain, although it's not as big a concern as the rain, he added. "If we do get a little bit of freezing rain this morning, it could ice up some of the roads and parking lots," Owsiak said. "With the heavier rain coming in today and tonight, the evening and tomorrow morning's commute you'll have reduced visibility, water ponding and pooling." The showers will linger into Thursday morning, with sun and cloud marking most of the rest of the day, and sunshine peeking out on Friday and a high of 11 degrees C. with some rain expected on the weekend as well. All that water will fall onto ground conditions that are already saturated from the spring runoff and rain from the past weekend. The river should peak in the Mitchell, Stratford and Tavistock area on Thursday afternoon and into the early hours on Friday in London. Water levels will remain elevated over the weekend. The conservation authority will operate its flood control reservoirs at Fanshawe, Wildwood and Pittock conservation areas to reduce downstream flooding. "Residents are reminded to use extreme caution near all watercourses and stay out of all flooded areas. Stream banks can be slippery and unstable, and the water is cold and fast-moving. Parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from watercourses," officials said in a statement.
CBC
20-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
London-area conservation authority hones in on 'Buy Canadian' movement
Social Sharing Buying local and Canadian may be a good way to show support for Canada in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff and annexation threats, but it's also just good for the environment, one London-area conversation authority says. Next week, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority's (UTRCA) board of directors will discuss changing the agency's purchasing policies to encourage staff to choose local when contracting goods and services. "The UTRCA prefers local supply," the recommendation reads. "Being an environmental organization, it's been part of our normal practice and our purchasing regulations to look locally," said Tracy Annett, UTRCA's general manager. Shorter delivery distances means a reduced environmental impact. But as the Canadian economy braces for U.S. tariffs, and reciprocal Canadian tariffs, emphasizing that local sourcing strategy has taken on a whole new importance. "We have a number of member municipalities in our watershed. Almost all are councillors that sit around our boardroom table to make these decisions, and all are hearing these same concerns about how we can reduce the impacts of tariffs," she said. UTRCA tries to source local or Canadian as much as possible, but some things can only be purchased, for now, from the U.S, said Teresa Hollingsworth, UTRCA's manager of community and corporate services. "The kinds of things that we have trouble sourcing are things like stream flow or monitoring equipment … If we need parts or repairs, we still would be forced to get those from the U.S.," she said. New locally developed website identifies Canadian-made products by bar code 6 days ago Duration 9:13 Local developer Sourabh Banerjee has launched a website that can help you shop Canadian. Hollingsworth said UTRCA's expenditure budget covers everything from campground supplies, water and wildlife monitoring tools, and flood control, office and IT equipment. "Our purpose really is to make sure our staff is always thinking about 'if we can get this local, we need to buy local.'" In discussions, UTRCA will be reflecting on: What constitutes local and Canadian, and would such a directive preclude sourcing from other countries? A memo going before the meeting notes interprovincial trade barriers may also make Canadian procurement more challenging. Local sourcing a topic at other conservation authorities Other local conservation authorities are looking at their own procurement. St. Clair Region Conservation Authority hasn't brought the issue to its board, but has been looking internally at where its suppliers are from, its general manager said. "We're looking at replacing some of our lawn mowing equipment," said Ken Phillips. "Where does that come from? Do we need to expedite the process to maintain that we can avoid tariffs?" The U.S. has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian steel and aluminum imports, prompting Canada to expand retaliatory tariffs. More U.S. tariffs are set to come on April 2. "While we haven't officially gone to the board with a proposal yet to look at purchasing, it might be something we look at doing in one of the next couple board meetings," Phillips said. Conservation Ontario, which represents conservation authorities, has provided some guidance around the issue, he said. A spokesperson for the organization was not available Wednesday. Mark Peacock, the CAO and secretary-treasurer of the Lower Thames River Conservation Authority (LTRCA), echoed the others on the lack of Canadian firms producing water quality monitors, and things like office software. LTRCA doesn't have a "buy Canadian" provision in its policy, but Peacock said a vast majority of its contracts are already for Canadian goods and services, many from local suppliers. "We do most of our work with local communities, things like planting trees, building wetlands," he said. "Almost everything we buy in doing that work is local. It's from local nurseries. It's local contractors doing that work." "We plant like 100,000 trees a year. We have to have a local source. We also need trees that grow in this area." At nearby Catfish Creek Conservation Authority, its general manager Dusty Underhill, said supporting and buying local creates a positive economic cycle for the region. "We've always been firm believers in sourcing local," he said.
