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Apr
3
Written by:
news editor
4/3/2012 1:00 AM
Twenty-four Ohio communities will receive a total of $555,746 in funding assistance from the ODNR, Division of Watercraft to support local marine patrol units.
COLUMBUS, OH – Twenty-four Ohio communities will receive a total of $555,746 in funding assistance from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Watercraft to support local marine patrol units. These funds represent a continued effort in keeping Ohio waterways safe and enhance recreational boating experiences for an estimated three million boaters this year. The funding comes from the state’s Waterways Safety Fund, which is comprised of the state motor fuel tax, watercraft registration and titling fees, as well as funds provided by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The 2012 Marine Patrol Assistance Grants will help local law enforcement agencies provide emergency response to boating-related incidents, conduct routine waterway patrols and purchase safety equipment for use on marine patrol vessels. While some agencies are located in Ohio’s large urban areas such as Cuyahoga, Franklin and Hamilton counties, others are in smaller communities such as in Knox, Pickaway and Scioto counties.
In 2011, Ohio had a record 426,674 registered recreational watercraft, ranking ninth nationally. Among this total are a rapidly growing number of registered canoes and kayaks that has more than doubled since 2001 and now represents one of every four Ohio-registered watercraft. As many as three million Ohioans enjoy recreational boating statewide each year on the Ohio River and Lake Erie, as well as on numerous inland lakes, rivers and other waterways. Additional boating information and a list of Marine Patrol Assistance Grant recipients is available online at www.ohiodnr.com/watercraft.
The ODNR Division of Watercraft administers Ohio’s boating and scenic rivers programs. The agency oversees watercraft registration and titling operations, provides funding to local communities for education, enforcement and boating access facilities, educates the public and enforces boating laws on Ohio’s waterways.
ODNR ensures a wise balance between the use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at www.ohiodnr.com.
For more information, contact:
Steve Massello, ODNR Division of Watercraft
614-265-6503
Bethany McCorkle, ODNR Office of Communications
614-265-6873
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