News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2005
OHIO LAKE ERIE COMMISSION AWARDS
MORE THAN $209,000
FOR
PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF LAKE ERIE
RESOURCES
Six long and short-term projects to benefit from
grants
TOLEDO, OH
– Six projects whose goal is to improve Lake Erie
and its watershed will benefit from $209,221 in grants approved Wednesday by
the Ohio Lake Erie Commission (LEC). The projects include three long-term
efforts to improve Lake Erie water quality and
three short-term efforts to further restore lake tributaries and wildlife
habitat and improve tourism in selected areas.
“Each
of these projects will significantly improve and protect the Lake
Erie watershed,” said Edwin J.
Hammett, executive director of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission.
“Each also furthers goals set forth by the Lake Erie Protection &
Restoration Plan which is the strategic blueprint for improving Lake Erie as a quality resource.”
A total of $181,763 in large grants for implementation of specific
projects went to The Ohio State University, the Western Reserve Land
Conservancy and the Chagrin River Watershed Partners.
The
Ohio State University’s Ohio Sea Grant received $20,243
to support the Ohio Clean Boater Program (with a focus on Lake Erie) as an
ongoing component of the Ohio Clean Marinas Program. Goals of the project are
twofold: to develop an organizational structure and location for the program
and to further develop ways of enticing watercraft owners to take the Clean
Boater Pledge. Project director: Leroy Hushak, Ph.D.
The
Western Reserve Land
Conservancy received $100,000
for Prioritization of the Western Reserve’s Lake Erie Basin.
This regional land conservancy, encompassing 14 northeast Ohio counties, will
prioritize parcels of land in the Lake Erie portion of the Western Reserve
region that contain the most sensitive tributaries, floodplains, wetlands, rare
species habitat and other important features. The product of this process will
be a database of prioritized parcels that will be used in developing a regional
Land Protection Program. Project director: Anne Murphy
The
Chagrin River Watershed Partners received
$61,520 for Implementing Best
Local Land Use Practices. The project will assist member communities and others
throughout the Lake Erie basin implement
riparian and wetland setback zoning and floodplain restoration during
development. Money will also provide these communities with tools necessary to
ensure long-term storm water management planning. Project director: Kyle
Dreyfuss-Wells.
A
total of $27,458 in small grants went to the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership,
the Ashtabula Marine Museum
and the Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development
Organization (NEFCO).
The
Doan Brook Watershed Partnership received $7,700
to restore 300 feet of Doan Brook in Cuyahoga
County in accordance with
an action plan to stabilize the stream channel and create a healthy riparian
buffer. Project director: Keith Jones.
The
Ashtabula Marine
Museum received $10,000
to restore the Fresnel lens from the Ashtabula Lighthouse in order to enhance
tourism in Ashtabula.
Project director: Robert Frisbie.
NEFCO
received $9,758 to begin a watershed
management plan for the Breakneck Creek Watershed in Portage County.
The plan will prioritize problem areas and recommend remediation activities and
best management practices to solve watershed problems. Project director: Claude
Custer.
The
Ohio Lake Erie Commission was created to preserve Lake
Erie's natural resources, enhance its water quality and promote
economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio Department of
Natural Resources serves as the commission's chairman. Additional members
include the directors of the departments of transportation, development,
health, agriculture and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The
commission oversees the Ohio Lake Erie Protection Fund, which is the source of grant funding. This fund is
supported by Ohioans each time they purchase a Lake Erie
license plate displaying either the Marblehead Lighthouse or the Toledo Harbor
Lighthouse – both designed by artist Ben Richmond. During
the last 12 years, the commission has raised nearly $8 million through the sale of Lake Erie license plates. The money has gone to a wide
range of efforts to preserve and enhance life along Lake
Erie.
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For
Additional Information Contact:
Edwin
J. Hammett, LEC
(419)
245-2514