EAC Resources

This page is dedicated to provide residents with environmental resources from the Environmental Advisory Council.

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY (SLF) UPDATE (8/1/23) - Allegheny County is now in the “Contain and Control” mode with respect to the spotted lanternfly (SLF) population.  The SLF will remain in the area and there are currently no effective large scale eradication methods or effective natural predators.  From September until the first frost, adult SLFs will be active laying eggs as egg masses – which to a very limited degree, you may be able to control.  It is best to avoid chemical controls.  The SLF will not hurt you or your pets and probably not kill your plants.  The SLF is not known to carry any diseases.  The fear of extensive damage to fruit plants has not materialized – except for grapevines.   Allegheny County is one of many PA counties currently under a quarantine.  Businesses involved in transporting goods to non-quarantined areas are required to secure a permit with the state.  For more detailed information, see the following link,  https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/blog/detail/greener-gardening, which is to a very informative 23 minute seminar (with 27 additional minutes of Q&A and thereafter a list of further resources) presented on August 1, 2023 by Braley Burke, an entomologist and Integrated Pest Management Specialist at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh, PA.  Another good resource is https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly.

Spotted Lanternfly

FRANKLIN PARK AIR QUALITY - A Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Sensor is located in Franklin Park, which provides a local Air Quality Index (AQI).  The real-time AQI resulting from this sensor (PA_77289) can be viewed by going to https://fire.airnow.gov, zooming in on the map to the Clover Hill Golf Course in Franklin Park, and clicking on the sensor.

TICKS - Know what to do if you find a tick on you or a loved one and learn how you can work to prevent tick bites and tick-borne diseases:  https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Vectorborne%20Diseases/Pages/Tick%20Diseases.aspx

BATS provide critical ecosystem services and are essential to a healthy planet.  To find out some amazing bat facts, myths or truths, threats to bats, how to help bats and how to place and install a "bat house" click here to view the educational pamphlet.

WHEN PLANTING TREES in new developments or on your own private property, the EAC recommends you choose from the list of species identified by the Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission. 

HOW TO PLANT YOUR TREES -  Visit arborday.org for instructions based on the kind of tree you are going to plant.  Look at the root configuration to determine the best planting process.