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Attraction has its Price
For more than a century, Lake Erie suffered from industrial pollution, untreated sewage discharges, and habitat degradation. Although significant strides have been made in addressing these issues, beneficial uses of four of Ohio’s major Lake Erie tributaries are still impaired. Algal blooms are returning in levels not seen in 30 years, and new invasive species continue to affect the ecological balance of the Lake.
Envisioned Improvements
The state of Ohio and local entities have developed strategic plans for the recovery of Lake Erie and its tributaries. Blue prints for a green watershed lie in local waterfront plans, watershed action plans, balanced growth plans, habitat and species recovery plans, the Lake Erie LaMP, Remedial Action Plans, and the Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Plan. These plans collectively describe the path for the recovery of Lake Erie.
Beacon of Recovery
Lake Erie has suffered great impairments and yet has also been a model of ecosystem recovery. Through the $475 million in new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding, Ohio can continue to participate in the Great Lakes environmental restoration. Ohio’s GLRI proposals will remove barriers to fish spawning areas, restore beneficial uses in Ohio’s 4 Areas of Concern, reduce harmful algal blooms, make beaches safer, protect critical habitats, reduce contamination from traditional non-point sources, address emerging contaminants of concern, and track measureable goals through some of the country's best monitoring programs.
Great Expectations
With the help of GLRI funding, the balance between use and preservation of Lake Erie’s coastal resources will be achieved giving our children a restored resource. The Brookings Institution has estimated that implementing the Great Lakes restoration strategy in full will generate $50 billion in long-term benefits, creating jobs, revitalizing our regional economy and improving our quality of life.
Getting Involved
Citizens, communities, watershed groups, universities, and many other organizations across Ohio's Lake Erie watershed can take part in the restoration of our Great Lake! Whether you want to apply for funding, volunteer to help in your community, or just learn about the work others are doing, there are many ways to get involved.
Review Ohio's Proposed Projects
The State of Ohio is developing a series of projects for funding through the GLRI. While some of these projects will be completed by state agencies, others will result in funding made available to local groups through competitive regranting programs. You can download a fact sheet below that includes Ohio's current proposed projects. Please note, these are projects that the State of Ohio is developing to submit as applications for funding. All projects are pending a final application to the competitive federal grant programs and a decision on funding by the relevant federal agencies.
Ohio's GLRI Proposals - Fact Sheet (pdf)
Ohio's GLRI Proposals - Detailed Projects Matrix (pdf)
Press Release: Governor Applauds President Obama, Congress for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (link)
If you would like to provide feedback on Ohio's proposed projects, please contact the Ohio Lake Erie Commission by email or phone at 419-245-2514.
You may also contact the following agency representatives:
Ohio Department of Agriculture
Mike Eckhardt
Legislative Liaison
Ohio Department of Agriculture
8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068
614-728-6204
Ohio Department of Health
Mary Clifton
Bureau of Environmental Health
Ohio Department of Health
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-1390
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Office of Coastal Management
105 W. Shoreline Drive
Sandusky, OH 44870
419-626-7980
coastal@dnr.state.oh.us
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Julie Letterhos
Lake Erie Program Coordinator
Ohio EPA - Division of Surface Water
50 W Town St, Suite 700
PO Box 1049
Columbus, OH 43215
614-644-2871
Share Your Project
Requests for funding must be submitted to the appropriate federal agency by the advertised due date. The federal RFP and relevant due dates have not yet been announced. Details on how to apply for funding can be found below, including a link to USEPA's GLRI homepage. As an entity working in Ohio, if you would like to inform the state of projects you are planning, we would encourage you to do so. Please send a brief summary of your project(s) to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission via email, we will be sure to share your project(s) with the appropriate Commission agencies.
Apply for GLRI Funding from a Federal Agency
GLRI funding is available to a wide variety of organizations. State, local, and special jurisdiction governments, tribes, non-profits, universities, and others can apply directly to USEPA and fifteen other federal agencies for funding for projects. To learn more about these funding opportunities visit the USEPA's homepage for the GLRI.
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glri/
Apply for GLRI Funding from the State of Ohio
Ohio envisions several opportunities to receive funding from federal agencies, then later regrant those funds to local organizations as a part of the GLRI. These opportunities will be listed as "regranting" projects in a future fact sheet that will summarize the State's GLRI application. This fact sheet will be provided here once the federal RFP has closed. Please check back at that time to learn more about Ohio's project list and future funding available through the state.
Track Projects in Your Community
Projects funded in Ohio will be listed and tracked on this page over the coming years. Please check back regularly for updates as GLRI funding makes its way into the watershed and projects get started.
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