COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has awarded a total of $567,504 in marine patrol grants to 31 local communities to assist in enforcing watercraft laws and maintaining safe boating on state waterways.

The grants are used by local law enforcement agencies to provide emergency response to boating accidents, routine patrols on area waterways and to purchase safety equipment for use on patrol vessels.

Funding for the Marine Patrol Assistance Grant Program is provided through the Waterways Safety Fund, which includes a share of the state motor fuels tax, watercraft registration and titling fees, and funding from the U.S. Coast Guard. A minimum 25 percent local funding match is required of recipients.

This year’s marine patrol grant awards range from $5,536 to the Cincinnati Police Department for a new patrol unit to $30,000 each for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District for established marine patrol units.

The ODNR Division of Watercraft administers the grant program in Ohio, as well as watercraft registration and titling operations, law enforcement and boating safety education programs. It also provides competitive grant funding awards to local communities for boating enforcement, education, access facilities and navigational signage.