UTRCA receives $17.4 million to fund clean water projects
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has received $17.4 million from the Canada Water Agency for stewardship projects to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Lake Erie.
In 2022, phosphorus loading in Canada reached 2,091 tonnes – with 53 per cent of that being present in the Huron-Erie corridor.
‘Phosphorus loading’ occurs when runoff, sediments or atmospheric conditions introduce increased concentrations of phosphorus to the lake. Although a certain amount of phosphorus in the water is completely natural, too much phosphorus can lead to toxic algae, depleted oxygen levels, and more.
“While overall water quality has remained stable across the subwatersheds, as indicated by the UTRCA Watershed Report Cards, there is still significant room for improvement to reduce phosphorus loading within the Thames River,” said Tatianna Lozier, Stewardship Services Coordinator with the UTRCA.
The UTRCA will use their funding to encourage agricultural best management practices for landowners through offering grants and support programs – encouraging cover cropping, soil testing, crop nutrient planning, erosion control measures, and subsurface fertilizer placement.
“There is a long history of conservation efforts across public and private lands, including agricultural properties,” said Lozier. “Between 2016 and 2020, over 200 Best Management Practice (BMP) projects were successfully implemented through the ongoing Clean Water Program, laying a strong foundation for future progress. The Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Program will build on this success and further enhance our impact.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates Car security investigation: How W5 'stole' a car using a device we ordered online
In part two of a three-part series into how thieves are able to drive off with modern vehicles so easily, CTV W5 correspondent Jon Woodward uses a device flagged by police to easily clone a car key.
'The Woodstock of our generation': Taylor Swift photographer credits email to her connection with the superstar
Taylor Swift has millions of fans worldwide, but Brampton, Ont.'s Jasmeet Sidhu has gotten closer to the musical icon than most.
opinion Why the new U.S. administration won't have much time for us
In a column for CTVNews.ca, former Conservative Party political advisor and strategist Rudy Husny says that when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau goes to the G-20 summit next week, it will look more like his goodbye tour.
A look at how much mail Canada Post delivers, amid a strike notice
Amid a potential postal worker strike, here’s a look at how many letters and parcels the corporation delivers and how those numbers have changed in the internet age.
What makes walking so great for your health and what else you need to do
Medical experts agree that walking is an easy way to improve physical and mental health, bolster fitness and prevent disease. While it’s not the only sort of exercise people should do, it’s a great first step toward a healthy life.
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested on gun charges in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.
'A tremendous inconvenience': Rural communities prepare for potential postal disruptions
The inability to send and receive letter mail won’t be the main pitfall of a service disruption. The biggest concern for rural communities will be parcel delivery. Small communities often rely on online deliveries for items they cannot find locally.
U.S. Congress hosts second round of UFO hearings
The U.S. government held another UFO hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the second such hearing in 16 months. This hearing was billed as an attempt by congress to provide a better understanding of what is known about previous sightings of UFOs, also known as UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena).
Toronto teenager charged with first-degree murder in Kitchener, Ont. homicide
A Toronto teen has been charged as part of an investigation into Kitchener, Ont.’s first homicide of 2024.