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Nov
15
Written by:
news editor
11/15/2010 1:00 AM
A new interactive map viewer showcasing the resources that may play a role in where offshore wind turbines might be placed in Lake Erie has been launched.
New Interactive Map Viewer Showcases Favorability Data for Offshore Wind Turbine Placement in Lake Erie
Sandusky, OH– A new interactive map viewer showcasing the resources that may play a role in where offshore wind turbines might be placed in Lake Erie has been launched by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Office of Coastal Management.
The Wind Turbine Placement Favorability Map Viewer is the latest step by the office to provide information that allows communities and businesses to balance the use and preservation of Ohio’s coastal resources while benefiting Ohio’s economy.
“Unique in the Great Lakes region, this map is an integral part of Ohio’s drive to be the home of the first fresh water wind farms in the world,” said ODNR Director Sean Logan.
The Wind Turbine Placement Favorability Map Viewer is the first application of the Ohio Coastal Atlas Use Case Toolbox. This toolbox allows users to select and view all or some of the thematic map layers that were used to develop the Wind Turbine Placement Favorability Analysis Map. Map layers include bird habitat, fish habitat, commercial and sport fishery efforts, lakebed sediments, distance from shore, land transportation, harbor navigation, shipping and ferry routes, shipwrecks, restricted areas, industries and utilities.
“We recognize there are many competing uses for the same natural resources,” said Office of Coastal Management Chief John Watkins. “It is important to provide all lake users, from private citizen to businesses, with the most up-to-date and easy-to-use tools for coastal and marine spatial analysis in order to preserve ecosystem services that meet economic, environmental, security and social objectives.”
In addition to viewing resource layers on an index grid system, Ohio’s Wind Turbine Placement Favorability Map Viewer provides a variety of custom tools allowing users to gather comprehensive attribute information including lake depth, lakebed sediment, fish habitat and limiting factor weight values. The Wind Turbine Placement Favorability Map Viewer can be accessed by visiting the Office of Coastal Management Web site: www.ohiodnr.com/coastal and selecting the “Coastal Wind” logo.
The map viewer is part of the Office of Coastal Management’s on-going efforts to provide free resource-based information to those interested in Lake Erie. The office’s first major publication was the national award-winning Ohio Coastal Atlas (print, online and DVD) followed by this year’s release of Ohio’s Lake Erie Public Access Guidebook (print and online). These are complimented by the Lake Erie Shore Erosion Management Plan project and the Ohio Coastal Design Manual, the first edition of which is on-target to be published in early 2011.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
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For more information, contact:
John Watkins, Office of Coastal Management
(status of offshore wind energy in Ohio)
419. 626. 7980
Brian George, Office of Coastal Management
(for questions regarding the use of the interactive map viewer)
419. 626. 7980
Heidi Hetzel-Evans, ODNR Media Relations
614.265.6860
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