GLIN==> Researchers Share Results of Lake Erie Area Research

Researchers Share Results of Lake Erie Area Research

 

December 20, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

HURON, OH-Scientists conducting more than 30 research and restoration
projects in northern Ohio met together on November 29 to share highly
anticipated preliminary results and coordinate their projects with other
researchers and state managers. The Lake Erie Coordination and Synthesis
Team is enhancing these projects by combining the results of Ohio's Lake
Erie projects, funded by more than $19 million from the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative (GLRI), to both restore Lake Erie and communicate
restoration results with stakeholders in the Great Lakes region.

 

"It's incredibly important that as scientists, we take the time to present
our results in a clear and concise fashion that is understandable to
managers, decision makers, elected officials, and the public," says Ohio Sea
Grant Director Jeff Reutter. "Doing so greatly enhances the value of the
projects."

 

The federally funded GLRI has provided nearly $775 million in new funding so
far for projects addressing some of the greatest threats to the Great Lakes:
toxic substances, invasive species, pollution, and habitat protection and
restoration. Researchers will produce management plans and conduct
on-the-ground projects, including constructing habitat, removing toxins, and
understanding nutrient runoff. Many projects target Areas of Concern (AOC),
such as the Maumee/Ottawa AOC, the Cuyahoga River AOC, and the Ashtabula AOC
to complete post-cleanup habitat restoration and move these areas toward
final delisting. GLRI projects have already led to a great deal of
remediation activity during the 2011 field season.

 

Led by Gail Hesse from the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and Reutter, the
Synthesis Team is made up of nearly 20 experts from around Lake Erie. The
team promotes cooperation among grant recipients and facilitates discussion
of information. Creating opportunities for cooperation among projects will
add to their value and placing project results in the hands of managers at
the earliest possible date will improve their ability to manage Lake Erie.

 

The team also supports outreach efforts for all participating projects
including a featured website, news releases, fact sheets, and newsletter
articles. The result will highlight the contributions that GLRI is making to
the improvement of Lake Erie.

 

Learn more about Ohio's GLRI projects at
lakeerie.ohio.gov/GLRI/SynthesisTeam.aspx.

 

###

 

Contact:

 

Jeffrey Reutter, Ohio Sea Grant College Program, Director, 614.292.8949,
reutter.1 at osu.edu.

 

Gail Hesse, Ohio Lake Erie Commission, Executive Director, 419.245.2514,
gailhesse at ameritech.net.

 

Sandra Kosek-Sills, Ohio Lake Erie Commission, Environmental Specialist,
419.245.2514, sandrakosek-sills at ameritech.net.

 

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