Nature

Healthy Foods, Locally Sourced

Where can residents purchase healthy, locally sourced foods?

The Meadville Market House has a twice weekly farmers' market during the growing season on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. Farmers and producers vend locally grown vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs, and flowers; locally raised proteins (chicken, pork, etc.) and eggs; locally produced honey, maple syrup, salsa, cider, etc. Throughout the week and through the winter, consumers can find local honey and maple syrup, proteins, eggs, cheese, milk, baked goods, soup, and limited produce inside the Market House. The Market House also stocks bulk grains, beans, spices, coffee, canned goods, and other kitchen staples alongside gifts, jewelry, essential oils, art and crafts. (1)

The Mobile Market is a converted CATA bus that travels around Meadville and to events to offer a portable farmers' market featuring locally grown produce. (2)

Al's Melons Farm Market and Greenhouse II, just outside Meadville City limits, features locally and regionally grown produce, local deli meats and cheeses, and locally raised flowers in flats and hanging baskets. (3)

Where can residents participate in community gardening efforts?

There are 13 local community gardens in Meadville! (4)

The Community Garden at the MARC is a large community space which invites all community members to participate by renting their own bed or participating in the maintenance of common spaces throughout the garden. The MARC also hosts potlucks, workshops and events to welcome the community to enjoy the space. (4)

Water

What are the local water bodies in Meadville?

The main waterway in Meadville is French Creek. Two additional tributaries, Cussewago Creek and Mill Run, fall within the city limits. (5) (6)

What recreation is available in and around Meadville’s bodies of water?

French Creek gives access to fishing, hunting, bird watching, hiking, and boating/paddling locally. (7)

• There is one canoe/boat access point in French Creek within Meadville city limits at Bicentennial Park (7)and several others nearby but outside the city limits.
• The French Creek Valley Conservancy protects the watershed and connects citizens to its many recreation opportunities (8).

Does Meadville have keystone, endangered, or indicator species?

• Pennsylvania's largest salamander, the hellbender, makes French Creek its home. (9)
• French Creek hosts more than 28 freshwater mussel species, including 13 that are listed as endangered in Pennsylvania. These freshwater mussels are valuable indicators of water quality. (9)
• The zebra mussel, an invasive species and potential threat, made its first documented appearance in the French Creek watershed in 2000 when it was discovered in Edinboro Lake in Erie County. (10)

How are human activities affecting local water bodies?

• 40% of land use in the French Creek Watershed is used for agriculture. (11)
• Meadville is the most industrialized city sitting on French Creek. How we interact with the creek can make a major impact on its quality.
• Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) such as no till planting, crop nutrient management, pest management, stream bank fencing, and animal feeding operations management are effective procedures that can sustain and improve water quality while maintaining effective agricultural production. (5)

What is the state of ecosystem services in Meadville?

Based on estimations made in a 2017 Allegheny College senior thesis, it is in the best interest for land use decision makers to conserve the French Creek riparian zone in the long-run as it is the more economically beneficial land use decision. (12)

Land

What park and recreation facilities are available in and around Meadville?

• The City of Meadville owns and operates sixteen parks and recreation facilities, four of which have more than 10 acres. Regionally, there are 37 parks and recreation facilities. (13)
• The City of Meadville has conducted a survey about changing the zoning around Diamond Park to allow small businesses. (14)
• The City of Meadville has created a plan for bike lanes and trail extensions; they still need to implements the future and proposed routes. (15) (The routes offered in the City of Meadville Parks Plan (Map. 2) should be implemented and would be beneficial to residents of Meadville and students at Allegheny College.)
• Ernst Trail and Diamond Park are examples of how the parks and trails in Meadville serve as assets to the Community. Ernst trail gives the city access to the natural beauty outside the of town. Diamond Park is existing green space within the city that creates a location in the city to have vibrant events like concerts and philanthropic events (ex. Winterfest, Summer Concerts ).

What pests or invasive species have made their way to the surrounding area?

Overall, there are 247 invasive species reported in Crawford County. Invasive, exotic plant and animal species such as purple loosestrife, hybrid cattails, zebra mussels and the emerald ash borer pose a potential endangerment to the health of the watershed’s natural flora and fauna. (16) (17)

Does Meadville have a stormwater management plan?

Meadville's stormwater management plan and fee provides funding to maintain and invest in stormwater infrastructure. (18)

How biodiverse is Meadville?

The French Creek Watershed is rich with biodiversity. Overall, there are fifty species of mammals, 379 species of birds, and 26 species of reptiles and amphibians documented in the French Creek watershed. (19) Cussewago Bottoms has been recognized as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. (20) (21)

Climate Changes

How does Meadville contribute to climate change and what is the city doing about it?

The city of Meadville has a Greenhouse Gas inventory, which recommends the creation of a sustainability committee. However, no further greenhouse gas inventories have been taken since. (22)(23) Meadville has also retrofitted traffic lights with LED to reduce energy consumption.

How does Allegheny College contribute to climate change and what are they doing about it?

Allegheny college has a climate neutrality goal set for 2020 as well as yearly greenhouse gas inventories. (24)

• As of 2016, the College has achieved a 19% decrease in energy use intensity (MMBtu/ft²) reflecting an improvement in efficiency.
• As of 2016, the College has achieved over 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2007.

What are expected weather changes in Pennsylvania?

Climate change projections of PA include greater and more frequent storms with an increase in precipitation by 5% (currently 41 in. avg annually). Snow Storms will increase in intensity due to lake effect. (25)(26)

How are temperatures likely to change in Pennsylvania in the next 20 years?

In the next few decades, temperatures are expected to rise by an estimated 2.5° F, leading to significantly more days with temperatures above 90° F. This can result in an increase of heat related illnesses (heat stroke), reduced crop yields, and increases in pests (mosquitoes). (25)(26)

What is the largest weather risk facing Meadville due to climate change?

Flooding is likely to increase due to the increase in precipitation in Pennsylvania. Meadville currently does not have a published flood plan to address these weather pattern predictions. (26)

1. https://www.meadvillemarkethouse.org/
2. https://www.frenchcreekfood.com/mobile
3. http://www.alsmelonsfarmmarket.com/index.html
4. https://www.growmeadville.org/
5. French Creek Watershed. (n.d.). The French Creek Conservancy. Retrieved April, 2018, from https://frenchcreekconservancy.org/french-creek-watershed/
6. Conserving Priority Landscapes. (n.d.). Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Retrieved April, 2018, from https://waterlandlife.org/land-conservation/conserving-priority-landscapes/#french
7. https://naturalatlas.com/boat-launches/bicentennial-park-2128958
8. https://frenchcreekconservancy.org/recreation/
9. The French Creek Watershed. (n.d.). The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved April, 2018, from https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/pennsylvania/placesweprotect/french-creek-watershed.xml
10. French Creek Watershed Conservation Plan (2002, January). Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Retrieved April, 2018, from http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/D_001904.pdf
11. Agriculture. (n.d.). The French Creek Conservancy. Retrieved April, 2018, from https://frenchcreekconservancy.org/agriculture/
12. Hanna, L. (2017, April). Valuation of Ecosystem Services vs. Economic Development in the Riparian zone of French Creek, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. https://dspace.allegheny.edu/bitstream/handle/10456/42722/2016_17_Hanna_RiparianZone.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
13. Final Parks Plan. (February, 2016). Retrieved April, 2018, from http://www.cityofmeadville.org/vertical/sites/%7B256E8AF9-2CF3-4525-A3F2-7B08979EFAAB%7D/uploads/Final_Parks_Plan_Feb_2016.pdf
14. Results of survey about Diamond Park. (n.d.). Retrieved April, 2018, from http://www.cityofmeadville.org/index.asp?SEC={FEAA8E53-F1BE-4FD0-8099-1AECC700E09A}&Type=QUICKPOLL
15. Comprehensive Recreation, Open Space, and Greenways Plan. (2016). Retrieved April, 2018, from http://www.cityofmeadville.org/vertical/sites/%7B256E8AF9-2CF3-4525-A3F2-7B08979EFAAB%7D/uploads/Final_Parks_Plan_ExecSumm_Final_Feb_2016.pdf
16. Status of Invasive. (n.d.). Retrieved April, 2018, from https://www.eddmaps.org/tools/statereport.cfm?id=us_pa
17. Risks to the Watershed. (n.d.). Retrieved April, 2018, from https://frenchcreekconservancy.org/risks-to-the-watershed/
18. Stormwater Management Program and User Fee (2012). Retrieved April, 2018, from http://www.cityofmeadville.org/vertical/Sites/%7B256E8AF9-2CF3-4525-A3F2-7B08979EFAAB%7D/uploads/Meadville_SWU_FAQ(1).pdf
19. Comprehensive Recreation, Open Space, and Greenways Plan. (2016). Retrieved April, 2018, from http://www.cityofmeadville.org/vertical/sites/%7B256E8AF9-2CF3-4525-A3F2-7B08979EFAAB%7D/uploads/Final_Parks_Plan_ExecSumm_Final_Feb_2016.pdf
20. Tautin, J. (2017). Important Bird Areas of the French Creek Watershed. Retrieved April, 2018, from https://frenchcreekconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FactSheet_IBAfinal.pdf
21. Cussewago Bottom. (2018, March 09). Retrieved April, 2018, from http://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/cussewago-bottom
22. City of Meadville. (2010). Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory & Climate Action Plan. Retrieved from: http://www.cityofmeadville.org/vertical/Sites/%7B256E8AF9-2CF3-4525-A3F2-7B08979EFAAB%7D/uploads/Greenhouse_Gas_Inventory__Climate_Change_Action_Plan_PDF.pdf
23. Diana, Z. (2011) Sustainable Meadville. Retrieved from: http://www.cityofmeadville.org/vertical/Sites/%7B256E8AF9-2CF3-4525-A3F2-7B08979EFAAB%7D/uploads/Sustainable_Meadville.pdf
24. Allegheny College. (2017) Climate Action Update Finance & Facilities 5 April 2017.
25. Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). What Climate Change Means for Pennsylvania. Retrieved From: https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-pa.pdf
26. Shortle, J. (2015). Pennsylvania Climate Impacts Assessment Update May 2015. The Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved From: http://www.depgreenport.state.pa.us/elibrary/GetDocument?docId=5002&DocName=2700-BK-DEP4494.pdf