Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan is a comprehensive study that compiles broad-based data about recreational, historical, socio-economic, and natural resources throughout the region. The plan involves a strong community participation element through the identification of local needs and concerns. This document is non-regulatory, and serves as a reference and educational tool promoting the conservation of natural resources, monitoring and improvement of water quality, and advocating sound community-planning practices. Recommendations identified in this plan are not enforceable by any agency. Implementation of this plan is the responsibility of the entire watershed community, and depends upon cooperation and collaboration among many different organizations. Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Program aids groups in accomplishing local initiatives through planning, implementation, acquisition, and development activities. As part of the program, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural resources (DCNR) established the Pennsylvania Rivers Registry to validate the completion of approved watershed conservation plans. The registry serves to promote public awareness of completed plans, while fostering support for future projects that will enhance the overall quality of the watershed. The Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan was conducted to document current conditions that identify initiatives to improve the livability and attractiveness of the region. Through public perception of current conditions and future expectations, the plan engages community involvement into the development of a future vision for the watershed and creates a prioritized list of recommendations to achieve this vision. Project Background In 2008, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy received funding from Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Recreation and Conservation to prepare a watershed conservation plan for the Allegheny River headwaters watershed. In 2009, public outreach was initiated through kickoff public meeting workshops, public surveys, municipal interviews, focus group meeting, and school workshops. Development of resource chapters began to take shape. Planning efforts continued into 2010 when key individual interviews were conducted and public surveys were finalized. The final touches of the Allegheny River Watershed Conservation Plan were conducted throughout the summer into the fall that including the prioritization of management recommendations, public review of the draft plan, and completion of the final Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan in 2011. ES-1
Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan Executive Summary Chapter Summaries Project Area Characteristics • The Allegheny River headwaters watershed is located within the Pennsylvania Wilds region. • Population within the watershed is declining. Since 1980, the population has decreased by 6.9 percent to 47,119 residents in 2000. The declining population trend is also prevalent within the nine population centers. • Land-use regulations, such as zoning and subdivision ordinances are not highly utilized within the project area. Only 38 percent of municipalities address and regulate land-use via comprehensive plans and/or zoning. The remaining municipalities rely their county’s comprehensive plan to address and regulate land-use. • The headwaters of the Allegheny River occupy 893 square miles within 37 municipalities in McKean, Potter, and Cameron counties. The watershed includes all the tributaries that enter the Allegheny River prior to its entrance into New York. • Wastewater authorities and 15 drinking water authorities provide services within the project area. The majority of authorities obtain water from groundwater sources. Bradford City Water Authority is the only authority that obtains water from source waters. • Vehicle transportation is the most popular form of transportation throughout the region. The Bradford Regional Airport provides commuter services to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Eldred, Pa. • Ecological conditions within the watershed are taut. The average household income within the project area is lower than average household income in Pennsylvania, New York, and U.S. Land Resources • The region has a rich history in oil and gas well drilling, especially in the area surrounding Bradford. In 2009, within the municipalities that comprise the Allegheny River Headwaters watershed 370 permits were issued for well development, of which 94% were located within McKean County. There were 137 wells drilled in the Allegheny River Headwaters region with 12 being Marcellus shale wells. • Other areas of concern within the project area include two superfund sites, 130 Resource Conservation Recovery Act sites, 55 illegal dumpsites, with an estimated 139.5 tons of trash, and three brownfield sites. • Agriculture has a significant role within McKean and Potter counties. Between 2005 and 2007, the number of farms increased by 13.7% to 691 farms. However, the average size decreased. ES-2
Page 2 and 3: Allegheny Regional Office 159 Main
Page 4 and 5: Allegheny River Headwaters Conserva
Page 66 and 67:
Allegheny River Headwaters Conserva
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Page 116 and 117:
Page 118 and 119:
Page 120 and 121:
Page 122 and 123:
Page 124 and 125:
Page 126 and 127:
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
Page 152 and 153:
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Page 166 and 167:
Page 168 and 169:
Page 170 and 171:
Page 172 and 173:
Page 174 and 175:
Page 176 and 177:
Page 178 and 179:
Page 180 and 181:
Page 182 and 183:
Page 184 and 185:
Page 186 and 187:
Page 188 and 189:
Page 190 and 191:
Page 192 and 193:
Page 194 and 195:
Page 196 and 197:
Page 198 and 199:
Page 200 and 201:
Page 202 and 203:
Page 204 and 205:
Page 206 and 207:
Page 208 and 209:
Page 210 and 211:
Page 212 and 213:
Page 214 and 215:
Page 216 and 217:
Page 218 and 219:
Page 220 and 221:
Page 222 and 223:
Page 224 and 225:
Page 226 and 227:
show all

Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?