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 The green-shaded portions of the photo show areas of North Bass Island that have been acquired by ODNR. |
MAUMEE BAY STATE PARK, OH Governor Bob Taft concluded an Earth Day tour of Ohio’s Lake Erie shore today by celebrating the state’s successful efforts to acquire most of North Bass Island and protect it as the last undeveloped island of its size in the lake.
“By acquiring North Bass Island for the people of Ohio, we are protecting its unique coastal resources and enhancing the full range of public recreation and tourism opportunities we offer on our Lake Erie shore,” Taft said. “This is a magnificent Earth Day gift to all who treasure Lake Erie and are committed to the conservation of Ohio’s single most important natural resource.”
In December, Taft had announced the state’s plan to purchase 589 acres or 87 percent of the 677-acre island for $17.4 million in state and federal funds. Completion of the property transfer was completed earlier this week, Taft announced.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) divisions of Wildlife, Parks & Recreation and Natural Areas & Preserves will now jointly manage the property for low-impact recreation, including hunting, fishing, hiking, primitive camping, birding and nature study. Grape production, a key part of the island’s heritage since the mid-1800s, will continue on approximately 85 acres remaining under lease to Sandusky-based Firelands Vineyards.
A unique funding partnership, bringing together near-equal amounts of state and federal money, allowed officials to purchase the acreage from the island’s longtime owner, Meier’s Wine Cellars, Inc. The purchase price was well below market value and reflects the seller’s desire to preserve the island for the benefit of all Ohioans, according to ODNR officials.
U.S. Senators Mike DeWine and George Voinovich assisted the state in acquiring the necessary federal monies. The Conservation Fund, a national environmental organization, brokered the transaction and provided critical support through their Great Lakes Revolving Fund. Launched in 2001 with funding from the CS Mott Foundation, the loan fund has protected more than 7,500 acres along the Great Lakes. Since 1985, The Conservation Fund has protected more than 3.7 million acres of America’s land and water resources, including 43,000 acres in Ohio.
“We believe this partnership represents a new brand of conservation and a model for the nation, bringing together public, private and nonprofit organizations to balance economic and environmental objectives,” said Larry Selzer, president of The Conservation Fund. “The Conservation Fund is committed to protecting America’s most important natural, cultural, and recreation areas, and we applaud Governor Taft, Senators DeWine and Voinovich, and the CS Mott Foundation for their vision and leadership.”
The 589 acres purchased by ODNR include nearly 2.5 miles of undeveloped shoreline, 58 acres of natural coastal wetlands and unique geologic features. The island provides habitat for numerous endangered and threatened species, and its near-shore waters are among the Great Lakes’ most productive sportfish spawning grounds. The island’s one-room schoolhouse, church, airport and 12 private residences were not included in the state’s acquisition.
North Bass Island (also known as Isle St. George), in Ottawa County, is the northern-most of Ohio’s Lake Erie Islands, lying 18 miles by ferry from Port Clinton and less than two miles from the international border with Canada. Of all the Lake Erie Islands of any size, it is by far the least developed, having only two dozen year-round residents and a summer cottage population of 35 to 50.