Environment

eNVIRONMENT

physical description

Fowler is a rural township located in Trumbull County. The terrain is flat with plenty of foliage and wildlife. The land area is 25.1 square miles and there is no measurable water area in Fowler. The elevation of Fowler is at 1, 138 feet. Fowler has the natural resources of soil, a large amount of trees, well water, and a natural gas line. Fowler is located at 41.311N and -80.655W. Much of the land in Fowler is used for farming and livestock purposes. The population density of Fowler is 109 people per square mile.

The average annual temperature of Fowler is 49 degrees F compared to 50.9 degrees F in Ohio and 54.5 degrees F in the United States. The heating cost index for Fowler is $288.69 compared to $264.44 in Ohio and 212.91 averaged for the United States. The cooling cost index in Fowler is far lower than the cost for Ohio and the United States. The cooling cost index was $27.24. The heating and cooling costs are solely based on the average temperatures of the areas and the duration of hot and cold days. The graphs below show some more detailed weather information, comparing Fowler (Blue) to the state of Ohio (Red), and the average of all United States locations (Green).

The Fowler area has a higher tornado index, which means more chance for a tornado to develop in the Fowler region. The tornado index of Fowler is 169.35, compared to 156.02 in the state of Ohio, and 136.35 for the average of the whole United States. On record there have been 66 historical tornado events in or near Fowler that have recorded a magnitude of 2 or above.

Housing

Household type by relationship: Households: 2,673

In family households: 2,375 (626 male householders, 148 female householders) 676 spouses, 840 children (798 natural, 4 adopted, 38 stepchildren), 37 grandchildren, 4 brothers or sisters, 12 parents, 21 other relatives, 11 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 298 (140 male householders (110 living alone)), 105 female householders (96 living alone)), 53 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 47 (all institutionalized)

Size of family households: 327 2-persons, 197 3-persons, 159 4-persons, 67 5-persons, 24 6-persons,
Size of nonfamily households: 206 1-person, 33 2-persons, 6 4-persons,
481 married couples with children.
91 single-parent households (29 men, 62 women).

Fowler is a township where many of its residents remain for years. Generations of families thrive in this township. 70% of Fowler residents have lived in the same house for 5 years. The median home age in Fowler is 36 years. The median home value is $140, 600 and the median worth of mobile homes is $20,600. Those who rent homes in Fowler make up 17.14% of the population. The vacancy rate of Fowler township is 4.71%. The Fowler residents with income below the poverty level was 3.6% in 2009, compared to 10.6% in the state of Ohio. The residents with income below 50% of the poverty level was 2.6% in 2009, compared to 4.8% in the whole state of Ohio.

The years Fowler homes were built (Purple), compared to the state of Ohio (Green). Many households in Fowler are older. This increases the risk for the use of lead based paint. Number of homes built in these years: 1999 to March 2000: 17 1995 to 1998: 34 1990 to 1994: 21 1980 to 1989: 117 1970 to 1979: 335 1960 to 1969: 181 1950 to 1959: 153 1940 to 1949: 46 1939 or earlier: 163

Biological/Chemical

Those in Fowler receive their water supply from local well water as stated by long-time Fowler residents. The majority of those in Fowler have their own well water supplying the water for their homes. Those who use well water must be aware of the potential contaminants, such as metal, fertilizers, and pesticides. The wells must also be constructed in such a way to reduce the risk of contamination from rain water. The residents of Fowler need to be aware that the well water lacks Fluoride, so Fluoride tablets are taken to compensate. In general, Trumbull County receives it's water supply from the Mosquito Creek Reservoir. In the year 2013, there was no violation of the condition of the water supply.

Currently the air quality of Fowler is at the green or good level of 37 AQI's. Only small particulate matter is present which means the air quality is safe for all. The pollen in the area is extremely low due to the cold temperatures. Smile Air Duct Cleaning Service is based out of Fowler. Their focus is on promoting quality indoor air to decrease allergies, respiratory problems, and the amount of dust in homes. This company also provides dryer vent cleanings, removes mold, and can install home ventilators to remove the waste in the air. This shows that Fowler promotes quality, safe, clean air for its residents. The goal of the Mahoning-Trumbull Air Pollution Control Agency is to attain and maintain healthy, safe, clean air. They do this by doing various activities such as making random inspections of public or private property, investigating potential violations, and monitoring the levels of lead, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, etc.

The graphs below compare the average air quality index, average lead, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide amount for Fowler Township (Blue), the state of Ohio (Red), and the United States (Green).

The air quality of Fowler is ranked at 89.5 out of 100. The water quality is only ranked 47 out of 100. The superfund index which is based on the number and the impact of EPA superfund pollution sites in Trumbull county is 98 out of 100.

This is the Geauga and Trumbull Solid Waste Management District recycling drop-off site in Fowler. The purpose of this is to promote environmental wellness and cleanliness. Some of the services include appliance recycling programs, tire drives, education for the public and school systems, litter enforcement, recycling drop off sites, and household hazardous waste collection programs. Some of the items acceptable for recycling are glass bottles or jars of any color, paper products such as cardboard and newspapers, and metal such as aluminum cans and steel. There can be no scrap metal, dishes, pots or pans, buckets, etc. Volunteers are always welcome to help clean up areas and plant flowers. The contact number is 330-675-2673.

Because of the large amount of open, spacious land many residents of Fowler own livestock, like the cow above. Common wildlife in the area are turkey, squirrels, raccoon, deer, skunks, coyotes, etc. Fowler also has a large amount of plant life. There are trees in all directions.

Fowler developed the Fowler Mosquito Control to help eliminate the spread of disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Some of these diseases include malaria, West Nile virus, and diseases that can be spread to dogs and horses, such as heart worms and eastern equine encephalitis. The main focus is to protect oneself from mosquitoes by using insecticides or insect repellent, wearing long sleeved shirts and pants while outdoors whenever able, and good maintenance of screen doors and windows to prevent the unwanted entry of mosquitoes. It is also very important to reduce the breeding of mosquitoes by removing water from any containers such as buckets, bird baths, pet water dishes, and flower pots on a routine basis. It is essential to protect the children and the elderly from mosquitoes. The goal is to promote health and educate the public about prevention of diseases spread by mosquitoes and protection from them.

The township of Fowler has a local farm which is called Schwartz Farms. This farm grows and sells crops such as soy beans, corn, barley, oats, and wheat. Schwartz Farms has been very successful as an international farming business. This farm has sold and shipped soybeans to Japan for years. The phone number for Schwartz Farms is 330-637-3388 and it is located at 4193 Everett Hull Road. Because of the vast amount of space and land in Fowler many people also grow their own food out of gardens.

Residents of Fowler use septic tanks to dispose of their wastes. Those who own a septic tank must understand how to keep it properly maintained and functioning. Some activities residents of Fowler can do to keep their septic tanks working properly are regularly cleaning, pumping, and inspecting the septic tank, protecting the soil treatment area, controlling water use in the home, and by not putting harmful products such as disinfectants, detergents, unwanted medications, and paper towels into the septic system. The family owned company of Duke's Sanitary Service Inc. serves the Fowler area. This company helps Fowler residents properly maintain their septic tanks. Duke's Sanitary Service has 24 hour service available for the residents of Fowler. The phone number is 330-856-3129 and the company is located at 1009 Youngstown-Kingsville Rd. in Vienna.

The Trumbull County Board of Health the Environmental Division promotes the health and safety of the environment. The services provided are available to all residents of Fowler Township. Some of the services included are Commercial Sewage, Residential Home Sewage systems, information on Tattoos and Body Piercing, Food Service Programs, information on Pools/Spas, Parks/Camps, Plumbing, Schools, and Private Water Systems (Wells). For the Wells section they provide information on water testing for wells, the importance of knowing your well water, obtaining a well water interpretation tool, etc.

strengths

Fowler is a close-knit agricultural community. Since Fowler is a small, rural community it is away from the urban and industrial pollution of larger cities. There is a lot less air pollution due to Fowler having a small population, a lack of factories and major industries, and a decreased level of pollution caused by automobiles. Fowler has plenty of nature components, such as various trees, plants, and wildlife. It is a pleasure to witness. The community of Fowler has a low housing vacancy rate and a low amount of people living below the poverty line. Fowler promotes clean, quality air both indoors and outdoors by use of the Mahoning-Trumbull Air Pollution control agency and the Smile Air Duct Cleaning Service. Fowler's quality of air is also rather high. Fowler understands the importance of decreasing the spread of diseases from mosquitoes. Fowler also has a recycling program in place to promote a clean, healthy environment for Fowler residents. There is a local farm in Fowler Township which provides local food and an international farming business. The environment of Fowler promotes tradition, togetherness, and peacefulness.

weaknesses

The township of Fowler has far less sunny days than the national average of the United States. Fowler also has a higher annual amount of rainfall and snowfall than the national average. Fowler has a high tornado index, which increases the chance for the area to have tornadoes. Many of the homes in Fowler are older, the majority built between the years of 1970-1979, increasing the risk of the use of lead-based paint. Residents of Fowler use well water for their homes, this increases the risk of potential water contamination from substances such as metals and pesticides. Fowler residents also use septic tanks to get rid of their waste products which can be safe if maintained properly. Fowler residents must understand how to properly maintain a septic tank to reduce the risk of waste water with potential harmful contents coming into contact with people or the natural environment. As seen during the Windshield Survey, Fowler lacks sidewalks, which is a safety issue for its residents.

references

http://www.bestplaces.net/zip-code/ohio/fowler/44418
http://www.city-data.com/township/Fowler-Trumbull-OH.html
http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=16724
http://www.startrecycling.com/recycle-drop-offs/trumbull
http://mosquito-controls.com/FowlerOhiomosquitocontrol
http://smileairductcleaning.com/oh/indoor-air-quality-fowler
http://www.usa.com/fowler-oh.htm
http://ychd.com/services/airpollution.aspx
http://www.septic.umn.edu/factsheets/understandyoursystem/
http://weather.weatherbug.com/pollen-forecast.html?zcode=z6286&region=8&region_name=North%20America&country=US&country_name=USA&state_code=OH&state_name=Ohio&zip=44418&city_name=Fowler&stat=KYNG
http://weather.weatherbug.com/OH/Fowler-weather/air-quality.html
http://sanengr.co.trumbull.oh.us/ccr/MC.pdf
http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/faq.cfm
http://tcbh.org/#
http://www.dukessanitary.com/#
http://www.manta.com/
http://farm.ewg.org/persondetail.php?custnumber=A03073433