SANDUSKY, OH -- An open house to discuss the creation of Ohio's first underwater preserve will be held Friday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Kelleys Island Town Hall. The meeting is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Village of Kelleys Island, the Ohio Historical Society, Submerged Lands Advisory Council and the Great Lakes Historical Society.
Those attending the open house will learn about ongoing efforts to create the preserve, which will highlight several Lake Erie shipwrecks. Interested parties will also find out what other states have accomplished with similar projects. Public input will be sought throughout the development of the preserve project.
"The waters around Kelleys Island contain more than twenty shipwrecks, making this a prime location for an underwater preserve," said Mike Colvin, administrator of ODNR's Coastal Management Program.
The underwater preserve will add another dimension to the many recreational opportunities already available in the Kelleys Island area.
Developers of the project hope to provide increased recreational opportunities for sport divers and non-divers as well, while protecting and preserving underwater resources and promoting appreciation of Ohio's maritime heritage. Many of the shipwrecks reflect Kelleys Island's economic and natural and cultural history.
More information on the project can be obtained by calling ODNR's Coastal Management Program at 419-626-7980 or by writing to the ODNR Coastal Services Center, 1630 Sycamore Line Road, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-4132.
For Further Information Contact:
Debbie Paul, ODNR Coastal Services Center
(419) 626-7980
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882