Grants Awarded To Enhance Access, Habitat, Tourism Along Lake Erie

Thursday, May 28th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Lake Erie Steelhead Fishing

Grants Awarded To Enhance Access, Habitat, Tourism Along Lake Erie
Lucas, Ottawa, Erie, Cuyahoga and Lake Counties to directly benefit
Sandusky, OH -(FishNLand.com)- Ten organizations and government entities will receive grant funding for projects that will contribute more than $1 million in improvements to Lake Erie Watershed communities and resources.

The Coastal Management Assistance Grants, awarded by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Office of Coastal Management, will help fund a green infrastructure feasibility study, a lakefront revitalization plan, interactive educational exhibits that highlight Lake Erie-related industries and promote tourism and efforts to improve beach quality. Each project selected for funding addresses at least one of the Ohio Coastal Management Program’s funding categories, including the protection and restoration of Lake Erie coastal resources, promotion of sustainable land use and community planning, coastal resource management education and outreach, and research and data collection.

The Office of Coastal Management dedicates a portion of its federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funding to the Coastal Management Assistance Grant program. This year, Coastal Management Assistance Grants will provide $359,168 to enhance Lake Erie communities and resources.

Projects from eight local entities and two state entities - the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Lake Soil and Water Conservation District, Lake County Port Authority, Cleveland Metroparks, the Great Lakes Historical Society in Vermilion, Sandusky Area Maritime Association, Put-in-Bay Township Park District, city of Oregon, ODNR Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and the Ohio Lake Erie Commission - will receive funding this year (see editor’s note). Grant-funded projects require a match of at least 50 percent of the project’s total cost.

Applications and guidelines for the next round of grants to be awarded in 2010 will be available in September 2009 online or by contacting the Office of Coastal Management at coastal@dnr.state.oh.us or 419-626-7980.

The ODNR Office of Coastal Management works to achieve a balance between use and preservation of Lake Erie’s coastal resources, in collaboration with its partners, by effectively administering the Ohio Coastal Management Program.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.