Welcome to the ODNR Office of Coastal Management


Logo: Ohio Coastal Management Program

Office of Coastal Management
105 West Shoreline Drive
Sandusky, OH 44870
419-626-7980
1-888-OhioCMP
Fax: 419-626-7983
coastal@dnr.state.oh.us

Website Inquiries

Lake Erie Public Access Guidebook - 2010 Publication
Applications for at least $250,000 in grants are being accepted for projects that preserve, protect and enhance Ohio's Lake Erie coastal resources.
a full-page story teaching the Lake Erie Literacy Principles and Concepts. Each Lake Erie literacy lesson is written as a conversation between Brenda and the mascot Truman the Kidsville News Dragon. In March 2011, the series received the award for Best Article or Series of Articles showing a Kidsville News publication promoting local educational content enrichment.
Area of Concern Grants - Apply now until 5 pm January 27, 2012


Algae Awareness 101 from the Ohio DNR, Dept of Health and Ohio EPA

Ohio Coastal Atlas - Maps


Ohio’s Lake Erie Use Case Map Viewers for Ports, Harbors and Recreational Boating


Ohio’s Lake Erie Use Case Map Viewers - Ohio's Lake Erie Watershed

Coastal Erosion Area Preliminary 2010 Mapping logo


The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) released a draft report of the Ohio Great Lakes Compact Advisory Board, which contains recommendations for implementing the Great Lakes Compact in Ohio. Public comments are welcomed through November 19. Additionally, ODNR will host an open house (November 19 from 3 to 5 pm at the Bay Village Library, 502 Cahoon Road) for further public input.

Applications for Lake Erie Cleanup Small Grant Program are due by 5 pm February 21, 2011
Applications for grants from the Coastal & Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) must be submitted to the OCM by 4 pm on Friday March 4. Each CELCP application can be for up to $3 million per project and require a 1 to 1 match from nonfederal sources.



Ohio Coastal Resources Advisory Council  
A 68 degree day in March at Nickel Plate Beach, Huron Ohio
Merrill v. State of Ohio DNR case Submerged Lands Leases

Socially, economically and environmentally,
Lake Erie is significant to Ohio and the region.

Sunset paddle on Lake Erie 11/1/11
Lake Front Park, Huron, Erie County, Ohio on 11/1/11
Photo: Marblhead Lighthouse State Park - looking East
The lake and its watershed are home to highly diverse ecosystems supporting thousands of species of fish, wildlife and plants, including many rare and endangered species. Millions of people reside in Ohio’s coastal counties and tap Lake Erie as their source of daily drinking water. Billions of dollars are spent annually by visitors to the coastal region.

Ohio's Lake Erie Watershed includes large and small businesses and industries, world-class institutes of higher-education, welcoming residential communities, prime farmland, scenic rivers, lush forests, natural wetlands, growing sand dunes, thriving estuaries and countless other resources, seamlessly unifying Ohio with the world's largest source of fresh surface water.

To help promote the sustainable use, development and protection of Ohio’s Lake Erie coastal resources, the state of Ohio developed the Ohio Coastal Management Program which was federally approved on May 16, 1997.

The ODNR Office of Coastal Management administers the Ohio Coastal Management Program which sets forth policies and guidelines in nine issue areas to monitor activities that affect coastal resources and ensure resource protection while balancing economic, cultural and environmental interests.

Office of Coastal Management Mission:

"Achieve a balance between use and preservation of Lake Erie's coastal resources, in collaboration with our partners, by effectively administering the Ohio Coastal Management Program."

Learn more: 

About the Office of Coastal Management
Ohio Coastal Management Program



The federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972