ODNR Awards Nearly $400K in Grants to Protect Lake Erie Shores
Published: Sunday, September 19, 2021
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has awarded nearly $400,000 in Coastal Management Grants to be used to improve and protect Ohio’s Lake Erie shores. The $389,353 in funding will be used for coastal planning, habitat restoration, public access, research, and water quality improvement projects.
“Northern Ohio has some of the most scenic views our state has to offer,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “This funding creates an opportunity for organizations to improve these coastal areas for people to enjoy and to educate the public on why we need to take care of this resource.”
“We’re excited to see how these projects develop and allow even more people to enjoy the scenic areas northern Ohio has to offer,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “We are proud to partner with organizations that make protecting our coastal shores a top priority.”
Five grants were awarded for the Fiscal Year 2022. Projects range from stormwater control to the construction of a boardwalk for people to enjoy the lakefront views of Lake Erie. The five projects and recipients include:
- Metroparks Toledo: $100,000 - Glass City Metropark Stormwater Management
- Lorain Port Authority: $50,000 - Port and Parks Lake Erie Bike Trail Station
- City of Rocky River: $100,000 - Bradstreet’s Landing, Interpretive Access Boardwalk
- Cleveland Metroparks: $21,000 - Wendy Park Nature-Based Shoreline Restoration
- City of Mentor: $118,353 - Mentor Marsh Public Access Project Phase II
Local matching funds of $600,195 will be used to complete the projects.
The Coastal Management Assistance Grant program is a competitive annual grant opportunity offered through the Ohio Coastal Management Program. Grants can be issued to eligible entities for water quality improvement, coastal planning, education programs, land acquisition, research, public access, habitat restoration, and other purposes. More than $6 million in Coastal Management Assistance Grants have been awarded in Ohio since the program began in 1998.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
A version of this article appeared in the Fall Issue (September/October) 2021 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Dept of Natural Resources, Environmental Impact, Lake Erie, Law & Politics
