GLIN==> Lake Erie License Plates fund research along Ohio's Lake Erie Coast

NEWS RELEASE  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2010

 

Lake Erie License Plates fund 

research projects along Lake Erie Coast

 

TOLEDO, OH - The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) administers Ohio's Lake
Erie Protection Fund which is supported by the sale of Lake Erie (Marblehead
and Toledo Harbor Lighthouse) license plates. The Commission awards small
grants for a variety of projects which directly benefit Lake Erie and its
tributary watersheds in Ohio. 

 

On March 10, Commission members awarded a small grant project to Cleveland
State University, which will receive $14,707 for their project entitled,
"Protecting mussel habitat on Lake Erie's coast." This project will help to
protect and restore native mussels, an important native fauna. Researchers
will quantitatively assess shoreline structures along Lake Erie, recording
data such as substrate type and water chemistry where mussels are found. The
data will expand our understanding of the presence of native mussels, which
were heavily impacted by the introduction of invasive species, such as zebra
and quagga mussels.

 

Grant projects, like the mussel study and other completed studies, give
scientists an opportunity to learn more about Ohio's diverse coastal
ecosystems and provide recommendations on how to protect and preserve them.
The following grants were recently finalized-all studies are available
online at  <http://lakeerie.oho.gov/> http://lakeerie.oho.gov   

The Lake Erie Islands: Nature-based Field Guide and Survey was completed by
Lake Erie Coastal Ohio, Inc. in conjunction with a number of partners
including The Nature Conservancy and Ohio Sea Grant College Program. Grant
funding supported the development of a Lake Erie Islands guidebook which
highlights the islands' unique natural and historical features. 

Predicting E coli using turbidity at Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a U.S.
Geological Survey study which looked at how often recreational use of the
Cuyahoga River is impacted by elevated concentrations of bacteria. Several
models were used to predict periods of elevated bacteria during recreational
seasons from 2004-2007. A separate, but related grant, Turbidity Model at
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, enabled the U.S. Geological Survey to
investigate the ability of a turbidity model to predict the recreational
water quality of the Cuyahoga River.

The Soil Phosphorus Stratification with Reduced Tillage grant project
focused on the concerns regarding the increasing dissolved reactive
phosphorus levels in tributaries to Lake Erie. Phosphorus stratification may
be one cause, while other factors, including the management of commercial
and manure fertilizers, likely also play a role.

The Winter Assessment of Lake Erie Microbiology project, conducted by
Bowling Green State University (BGSU), studied aquatic organisms, such as
phytoplankton, during the winter months over a two-year period. Study
findings support the existence of a physiologically healthy assemblage of
diatoms in Lake Erie, which contribute to carbon cycling. The project
provided a rare opportunity to collect winter data on Lake Erie because of a
partnership between BGSU and a Canadian ice breaker.

The Bioswale Effectiveness Monitoring project was conducted by the Chagrin
River Watershed Partners, Inc. to demonstrate the effectiveness of low
impact development (LID) stormwater best management practices in Northeast
Ohio. Data analysis over 18 months showed that even when adjusted for
seasonal variations, bioswales are effectively removing pollutants
associated with sediments and particulate matter. A bioswale uses natural
means, including vegetation and soil, to treat stormwater by filtering out
contaminants being conveyed in the water.

Grant funding supported the installation of a Floating Access Ramp and Dock
by the Ashtabula Lighthouse Society. The project allowed for safe access by
volunteers who are working on preservation and restoration projects at the
lighthouse. 

The Ohio Nowcast provides the public with real-time beach advisories based
on predictive models. The Turbidity and PAR Data for Refining Nowcast study
was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey to improve the methods for
determining the probability that the single-sample bathing water standard
for E. coli will be exceeded. The project refined the models, based on a
variety of variables, being used at Huntington and Edgewater beaches. This
prediction model can provide information to beach managers in real-time,
rather than 24 hours after a water sample is taken, which is the current
standard.

The Lake Erie Protection Fund was established to help finance research and
implementation of projects aimed at protecting and preserving Lake Erie and
its watershed. The fund is supported by Ohioans each time they purchase a
Lake Erie license plate displaying the Marblehead Lighthouse or renew the
Toledo Harbor Lighthouse plate as designed by noted Lake Erie artist Ben
Richmond. During the past 16 years, Ohioans have contributed more than $9
million to the fund, which has supported more than 300 projects. 

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established for the purpose of preserving
Lake Erie's natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and
ecosystem, and promoting 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 state departments
of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture and the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency.

 

-30-

 

For Further Information Contact: 

Edwin J. Hammett, Lake Erie Commission

419. 245. 2514 

 

 

 

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