The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Our area of jurisdiction, the upper watershed of the Thames River, covers 3,430 square kilometres in southwestern Ontario and is home to approximately 593,700 people. The Thames is a Canadian Heritage River.
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) owns and/or manages more than 5,790 ha (14,300 ac) of land within the Upper Thames River watershed, spread across some 40 properties. The UTRCA owns and conserves approximately 1.7% of the Upper Thames River watershed (342,063 ha), making the Conservation Authority one of the largest landowners in the watershed. The forests, wetlands, meadows, watercourses, and ponds within these properties are critically important for preserving and restoring the watershed’s ecological health, as well as providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature appreciation.
