Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan
Chapter 1. Project Area Characteristics
Driftwood, and Freeport; CSX in Erie, New Castel, and Buffalo; as well
as CP Rail and Transcontinental Canadian Railroads via Buffalo. It
currently carries eight million gross tons annually.
Emergency Services
Access to emergency services is essential. Typically, these
facilities are found in centralized population areas where responders can
react quickly to emergencies. Ambulance services, police departments,
fire departments, and hospitals are examples of emergency services and
facilities. Services to communities outside the population center also are
available, with possible delays.
Within the headwaters of the Allegheny River region there are two
hospitals, 10 municipal police departments, 13 ambulance service
centers, and 25 fire departments servicing the area. The Austin
Dry hydrant located along an
area waterway
Volunteer Fire Department is the largest fire district in Pennsylvania, servicing 222 acres. In
municipalities where there are no police departments, the Pennsylvania State Police provide services. A
listing of all emergency service providers is located in Appendix C.
Dry Hydrants
As the region is primarily rural, infrastructure capabilities are limited. The establishment of dry
hydrants throughout the region is an important safety feature. Dry hydrants are non-pressurized pipe
systems installed on ponds, lakes, or streams. They provide rural fire companies with access to water in
order to respond to fires, increasing their life-saving capabilities and decreasing property damages
resulting from fires. The hydrants save money, reduce operating cost, utilize freshwater as opposed to
treated water, and may decrease insurance premiums (Northeast Missouri Resource Conservation and
Development).
Economy and Employment
Economic conditions are constantly changing; employment circumstances contribute to those
changes. When monitoring economic conditions, average household income and unemployment rates are
examined. Table 1-8 compares the average household income and the unemployment rate within the
watershed to that of Pennsylvania and the U.S.
In 1980, the average household income was $16,668; in 2000, it jumped to $42,560—an increase of
155 percent. The inflated cost of living and decreased population have had an impact on household
income.
1-17