State regulators are seeking public comments on two plans for future activities for Lake Erie and its watershed.
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission released its draft “Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Plan 2020.” It has nine priority areas that address current and emerging Ohio Lake Erie basin, according to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has issued the draft “2021-2025 Assessment and Multi-Year Strategy Plan.”
It outlines two strategies, which are coastal resources and resiliency, and public access enhancement, deemed priority opportunities to enhance Ohio’s coastal resources through improvements to the Ohio Coastal Management Program.
Both agencies are seeking public comments on the documents.
Protection and restoration
The Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Plan 2020 has nine priority areas: nutrient pollution reduction, habitat and species, invasive species, dredge material management and maritime infrastructure, areas of concern, toxic pollutants, beach and recreational use, tourism, jobs and the economy, and water withdrawals.
The plan sets the priorities for the six state agencies that make up the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, said  Lake Erie program administrator Lynn Garrity. They are the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Development Services Agency and the Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Transportation and Health.
The commission will host one public meeting and webinar to present the plan and solicit public comment from 4 to 6 p.m., Feb. 18. Interested people can join the meeting live at the Ohio EPA Northeast District Office, 2110 East Aurora Road in Twinsburg, or join online.
For more information and additional meeting details, visit the commission’s website, lakeerie.ohio.gov.
The public comment period will close Feb. 28. Comments may be submitted at the public meeting, through the webinar, or by submitting them to the Commission at [email protected].
Multi-year strategy
ODNR’s 2021-2025 Assessment and Multi-Year Strategy Plan is being developed and will be implemented by the ODNR Office of Coastal Management through the federally funded Ohio Coastal Management Program.
The plan is important because it provides Ohio a source of federal grant funding that does not require matching funds, according to the department. Money for the plan projects comes from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In accordance with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, the nine priority areas are wetlands, coastal hazards, public access, marine debris, cumulative and secondary impacts, special area management plans, Great Lakes resources, energy and government facility siting and aquaculture.
Public comments are due by March 16.
The draft 2021-2025 Assessment and Multi-Year Strategy Plan can be downloaded online or by contacting the Office of Coastal Management at [email protected] or 419-626-7980.
Comments on the 2021-2025 plan must be emailed to [email protected] at the Office of Coastal Management by March 16 or postmarked by the same date.
The mailing address is: ODNR Office of Coastal Management, Attn: Steve Holland, 105 West Shoreline Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870.
