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May
7
Written by:
news editor
5/7/2010 1:00 AM
05/07/10 The Ohio Scenic Rivers Program will no longer actively pursue scenic river designation for the Vermilion River.
ODNR halts Vermilion State Scenic River Designation
COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Scenic Rivers Program will no longer actively pursue scenic river designation for the Vermilion River, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Watercraft.
“The Scenic Rivers program has been successfully protecting Ohio’s high quality streams without compromising property ownership rights for more than 40 years,” said ODNR Director Sean Logan. “There are a number of economic and conservation benefits which follow scenic river designation, however, a number of local communities have made it clear that they are not interested in partnering with ODNR to protect the Vermilion River through the Scenic Rivers program.”
The Vermilion River meets the criteria for inclusion in the state scenic rivers system. If designated, the Vermilion would have become Ohio’s 15th state scenic river. The designation is a means of publicly recognizing and retaining conservation support for Ohio’s superior waterways.
“The Vermilion River remains eligible for scenic river designation, if local communities wish to pursue it in the future,” said Director Logan. “Our goal remains the same—protecting Ohio’s remaining high quality stream systems. We had hoped to reach that goal on the Vermilion River through conservation initiatives like the Ohio Scenic Rivers Program.”
Ohio passed the nation’s first scenic river protection legislation in 1968. Today, Ohio has 14 designated rivers including the Ashtabula, Big & Little Darby, Chagrin, Conneaut Creek, Grand, Kokosing, Little Beaver Creek, Little Miami, Maumee, Mohican, Olentangy, Sandusky, Stillwater & Greenville Creek and Upper Cuyahoga. About 800 miles are designated along these 14 streams; the majority of these river corridors are privately owned. To learn more about scenic river designation, visit ODNR’s Web site at www.ohiodnr.com/watercraft.
As a result of ODNR’s decision, all scheduled Vermilion Scenic River public information sessions have been cancelled.
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For more information, contact:
John Wisse, ODNR Division of Watercraft
614. 265. 6695
Heidi Hetzel-Evans, ODNR Media Relations
614. 265. 6860
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