Environmental Planning
The Trumbull County Planning Commission continually coordinates with local governments and agencies in order to plan and implement environmental initiatives that promote smart, sustainable growth, and positively impact the quality of life in our county.
Floodplains
Trumbull County has special flood hazard areas that are subject to periodic inundation which may result in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base.
For further information about floodplains and floodplain permits please visit our Floodplains page.
Land Preservation
One of the best ways to protect our resources is to acquire Floodplains, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks, Streams, Wetlands, Streamside Forests and other High Quality Wildlife Habitat Areas. The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund has allowed us to purchase nearly 1,200-acres of valuable floodplains, wetlands, waterways, and streamside forests. The main recipient of acquired lands has been the Trumbull County Metro Parks.
The Trumbull County Planning Commission works on land preservation projects to implement our plans for protection, preservation and passive recreational use where appropriate. The Planning Commission recognizes that there are many benefits to encourage the protection of these areas, which include water quality and quantity issues, such as flood control (storm water retention), water filtration, maintaining ecological diversity, and wildlife protection. There are also indirect economic benefits in preserving green areas for recreation.
Preservation of key areas increases the quality of life as well as encourages smarter growth by attracting businesses to locate in less sensitive areas that are near these aesthetically pleasing environments. These types of projects promote a watershed approach to land use planning and smart growth. These areas also provide opportunities for environmental education and passive recreation.
Floodplains, wetlands, streamside forest (riparian) buffers, and open space have all been identified as important areas to protect in several of our studies and plans. There have been significant projects in recent years that further our vision of preserving lands, increasing water quality, and reducing flooding in the County that would provide passive recreation while increasing the aesthetic and ecological value of the area.
Some of the land preservation activity in recent years includes:
Purchase of 142.0026 acres on Mosquito Creek – Clean Ohio Fund 2008/2009
Facilitated acquisition of 65.98-acres behind Super Wal-Mart in Bazetta,
December 2007
Purchase of 136.22-acres on the Mahoning River in Weathersfield - Clean Ohio
Fund 2006/2007
Purchase of 263.42-acres on Swine Creek in Grand River Watershed - Clean Ohio
Fund 2006/2007
Purchase of 71.55-acres on the Mahoning River for preservation - Clean Ohio Fund
2006/2007
Purchase of 99.1-acres in Grand River Watershed on Coffee Creek - Clean Ohio
Fund 2006/2007
Removed Dam at North River Road (former CSC) on the Mahoning River,
November 2005
Acquired 1/2-acre on Lynwood, at North River Road (former CSC) Dam on
Mahoning River, September 2005
Removed Dam at Lover’s Lane on the Mahoning River, June 2005
Purchase of 12.5-acres on the Mahoning River in Braceville - Clean Ohio Fund 2005
Purchase of 100.5-acres on Mosquito Creek - Clean Ohio Fund 2004
Purchase of 135.43-acres on Mosquito Creek - Clean Ohio Fund 2003
Assisted application to purchase 119.6-acres in the Howland Wildlife Preserve –
Clean Ohio Fund 2002
Mosquito Creek Boardwalk Trail
This land acquisition and preservation project was constructed in 2008. The Boardwalk Trail is the first of its kind in Trumbull County. The Mosquito Creek Boardwalk connects Howland Township Park from its south-westernmost corner, and continues southwest across an open water area to the 100.5-acres of Mosquito Creek Floodplain that was purchased in 2004 through the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program. The project was successful due to the cooperation of the landowner and a partnership of the Mahoning River Consortium, Howland Township (owner of Boardwalk and land), and the Trumbull County Planning Commission.
Useful Maps
Trumbull County Watersheds and Sub-Watersheds
Related Links
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
United States Army Corps of Engineers – Pittsburgh District
Ohio Department of Natural Resources