Input is sought for river plan

YOUNGSTOWN -- Local residents are asked to help develop a Mahoning River Watershed Action Plan by sharing their concerns and ideas during five public meetings starting this week. Each meeting will be from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m.
Meetings will be:
UWednesday at Copeland Oaks, 800 S. 15th St., Sebring.
UOct. 30 at Lakeview High School cafeteria, 300 Hillman Drive, Cortland.
UNov. 6 at the Newton Falls Community Room auditorium, 52 E. Quarry St., Newton Falls.
UNov. 13 at Mill Creek Experimental Farm, state Route 46 opposite the Canfield Fairgrounds, Canfield.
UNov. 20 at the Girard High School auditorium, 31 Ward Avenue, Girard.
The project is coordinated by Dr. Scott Martin, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Youngstown State University.
Martin said these "public stakeholder" meetings will focus on the condition of the river, reservoirs, streams and wetlands and how it affects water supplies, economic development and quality of life. The plan will identify water quality goals and actions.
The Mahoning River Consortium, a volunteer group of residents and representatives of local, state and federal agencies, spearheaded an effort that obtained a planning grant for the Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District from the U.S. and Ohio environmental protection agencies.