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December 21, 2005
Ohio Lake Erie Commission awards $30,955 in grants
TOLEDO, OH Nearly $31,000 has been awarded by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission for five research projects that will benefit Lake Erie and its environmental, recreational and economic resources.
Grant recipients include: Maritime Archaeological Survey Team, Inc., $10,000; The Ohio State University Research Foundation, $9,955; The Ohio State University, $8,000; Heidelberg College, $2,000; and Cleveland Lakefront State Park, $1,000.
These quarterly grants are limited to $10,000 or less and are generally awarded for one year unless the specific nature of the project warrants a longer time period. Small grants may be used as seed money to test the feasibility of both large and small projects. Small grant proposals are reviewed and selected at each quarterly meeting of the Lake Erie Commission.
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was created to preserve Lake Erie's natural resources, enhance its water quality and promote economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources serves as the commission's chairman. Additional members include the directors of the departments of transportation, development, health, agriculture and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The commission oversees the Ohio Lake Erie Protection Fund, which is the source of grant funding. This fund is supported by Ohioans each time they purchase a Lake Erie license plate displaying either the Marblehead Lighthouse or the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse, as designed by Ohio artist Ben Richmond.
Maritime Archeological Survey Team, Inc. (MAST) ($10,000) “Historic Shipwreck Mooring Blocks Public Access.” Project director: Kenneth S. Marshall. MAST plans to install permanent mooring blocks adjacent to several Lake Erie shipwrecks. The permanent mooring blocks eliminate potential damage to the sites caused by direct connection to the wrecks. They also allow larger charter vessels to use the moorings, thereby providing increased access to the non-boating diver. Addition of the off-wreck mooring blocks is needed to provide ongoing protection to these unique, submerged, historical resources.
The Ohio State University Research Foundation ($9,955) “The Development of an Underwater Trailways System for Ohio’s Lake Erie.” Project directors: David Kelch and Joe Lucente of Ohio Sea Grant. A 16-20 page, color guide and a website will be created to help Ohio residents and visitors locate the many historical, cultural and recreational shipwrecks and unique underwater habitats in Ohio’s Lake Erie waters. The guide will also promote eco-tourism and economic development.
The Ohio State University ($8,000) “Solid-phrase micro extraction fibers as models to predict contaminant bioaccumulation.” Project director: Roman Lanno. Researchers will be examining a method using polymer fibers to absorb contaminates compared to the absorption of zebra mussels resulting in a faster, less costly test. Data from this study will support the Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Plan and help establish criteria to evaluate contaminated sediment sites.
Heidelberg College ($2,000) “The Sandusky River Watershed Symposium.” Project director: David Baker. The college plans to host a two-day Sandusky River Watershed Symposium in June 2006 that will cover water quality programs put in place since the last symposium held 30 years ago. The symposium will be a major force in the continued development and implementation of watershed action plans in the Sandusky River Watershed.
Cleveland Lakefront State Park, Ohio Department of Natural Resources ($1,000) “Lake Kleenerz Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers Campaign” a Pilot Project. Project director: Carol Ward. A middle school group will collaborate with ODNR to produce 1,000 color pamphlets titled “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers.” The brochure will be distributed at 9 marinas and 13 yacht clubs across northeast Ohio. The project will help raise boater awareness of aquatic invasive species.
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