Environmental Planning
The Trumbull County Planning Commission coordinates with local governments and agencies to plan and implement environmental initiatives.
Trumbull County's Solar PV Project
The Trumbull County Planning Commission, on behalf of the Trumbull County Commissioners, applied for and administered a $302,802 grant to purchase and install a 53kW Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System.
The Trumbull County Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System JFS Project was awarded and 100% funded through a grant from the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) Ohio Energy Office’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) Program for local governments.
The purpose of the project was to utilize renewable solar energy via a new rooftop solar photovoltaic system to provide energy savings on a county-owned building at 280 North Park Avenue, Warren, Ohio.
Because the project was 100% paid for, there was no "payback period" and Trumbull County began saving money as soon as the switch was flipped and the system powered up on June 1, 2011. The county is seeing steady relief in electric utility bills. The solar panels have a 25-Year warranty; however, they have a 35-40 year life-expectancy. Since the installation of the solar array in 2011, Trumbull County has received more than $20,000 in electric utility savings.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW REAL-TIME MONITORING INFORMATION OF THE TRUMBULL COUNTY SOLAR PROJECT
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 by clicking here.
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 Trumbull County MetroParks.
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:
Purchased 84 acres on Mosquito Creek - Clean Ohio Fund 2010
Purchased 142 acres on Mosquito Creek - Clean Ohio Fund 2008/2009
Facilitated acquisition of 65.98-acres behind Super Wal-Mart in Bazetta, 2007
Purchased 136 acres - Mahoning River in Weathersfield - Clean Ohio Fund 2006/07
Purchased 263 acres -Swine Creek Grand River Watershed - Clean Ohio 2006/07
Purchased 71.55-acres on the Mahoning River - Clean Ohio Fund 2006/07
Purchased 99 acres -Coffee Creek Grand River Watershed - Clean Ohio 2006/07
Removed Dam at North River Road (former CSC) on the Mahoning River, 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.
For more information contact:
Trish Nuskievicz, Assistant Director
Trumbull County Planning Commission
347 N. Park Avenue, Warren, Ohio 44481
(330) 675-2480, fax: (330) 675-2790
PCNuskie@co.trumbull.oh.us
Useful Maps and Information
Trumbull County Watersheds and Sub-Watersheds
Lower Mosquito Creek Watershed Balanced Growth Plan
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