3 projects proposed by McCandless environmental group get OK from council
Share this post:
McCandless’ Environmental Advisory Committee has the green light to proceed with spreading awareness about efforts to preserve the town’s natural resources.
Council gave the committee the nod to develop a speakers series that will feature experts on sustainability and environmental issues.
Council President Kim Zachary said an example of the topics that could be addressed is the Aug. 21 presentation by the PA Lyme Resource Network on how to combat the spread of Lyme disease.
Zachary said the environmental committee is welcoming suggestions for guest speakers to book or topics that could be covered.
A second initiative will be presented at the Sept. 14 Community Day celebration at Town Hall.
“We are waiting for the results of a tree canopy inventory that was conducted that included trees on town property,” Zachary said, adding that the inventory includes information about the value certain trees can have for a community.
“We’d like to put signs on three of the trees on town property that quantify things like how much CO2 (carbon dioxide) it takes out and how much storm water it remediates,” she said. “People often don’t recognize the monetary value of trees.”
Zachary said the plan is for the signs to be removed after Community Day.
But Councilwoman Joan Powers said the information conveyed could be an ongoing teaching tool.
“Why take them down?” she asked. “Maybe we could put some in our parks and along trails.”
Zachary noted that the signs will be handmade because the environmental committee does not have funds to purchase or make permanent signs.
But that could be something to consider for the future, she said.
“If people really like it, I think that would be really nice,” Zachary said. “Maybe council can put some money in the budget for real signs that stay up all the time.”
The tree canopy inventory was conducted by the non-profit group TreeVitalize, which is part of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
A third project involves placing permanent markers on storm water inlets to serve as a “reminder” for residents about the dangers of placing debris or chemicals into the system.
Town Manager Bob Grimm said all three projects also help fulfill the government’s requirement that municipalities educate residents about the importance of guarding the environment.
The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority and the municipalities it serves are under a federal mandate to cut in half by 2026 the estimated 9 billion gallons of sewage each year that overflows its sewer system and goes into the rivers.
Stormwater carrying silt, chemicals and other debris is one of the major contributors to the region’s water pollution problems.