12-11-2010, 12:10 PM
TOLEDO, OH - The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) will hold its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, December 15 at 10:15 a.m. at the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Bromfield Administration Building, Auditorium A located at 8995 East Main Street in Reynoldsburg. The meeting, which is open to the public, will immediately follow a brief meeting of the Ohio Water Resources Council which will convene at 10 a.m. at the same location.
During the Commission meeting, there will be a review of the status and recent progress on commission activities, such as a review of the funded Lake Erie Protection Fund grants, current status of Balanced Growth activities and the anticipated impact of the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative on Lake Erie issues including beach closings, excessive nutrient loadings, harmful algal blooms and habitat restoration.
Commission members are expected to act on the latest round of Lake Erie Protection Fund grant applications including the small grant applications for the second quarter of state fiscal year 2011. The commission oversees Ohio's Lake Erie Protection Fund, which is a source of grant money for projects that benefit the Lake Erie watershed economically and environmentally. This fund is supported by Ohioans who purchase a Lake Erie license plate displaying the Marblehead Lighthouse or Toledo Harbor Lighthouse designed by Ohio artist Ben Richmond. Since 1993, more than $9 million has been raised from sales of the Lake Erie license plates.
All OLEC meetings are open to the public and include reports from the member state agencies and advisory committees followed by a public comment period. Organizations and citizens are encouraged to attend this meeting.
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established for the purpose of preserving Lake Erie's natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promoting 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 state departments of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Media Contact
Edwin Hammett, Ohio Lake Erie Commission<br />
419. 245. 2514
Heidi Hetzel-Evans, ODNR Media Relations<br />
614. 265. 6860
During the Commission meeting, there will be a review of the status and recent progress on commission activities, such as a review of the funded Lake Erie Protection Fund grants, current status of Balanced Growth activities and the anticipated impact of the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative on Lake Erie issues including beach closings, excessive nutrient loadings, harmful algal blooms and habitat restoration.
Commission members are expected to act on the latest round of Lake Erie Protection Fund grant applications including the small grant applications for the second quarter of state fiscal year 2011. The commission oversees Ohio's Lake Erie Protection Fund, which is a source of grant money for projects that benefit the Lake Erie watershed economically and environmentally. This fund is supported by Ohioans who purchase a Lake Erie license plate displaying the Marblehead Lighthouse or Toledo Harbor Lighthouse designed by Ohio artist Ben Richmond. Since 1993, more than $9 million has been raised from sales of the Lake Erie license plates.
All OLEC meetings are open to the public and include reports from the member state agencies and advisory committees followed by a public comment period. Organizations and citizens are encouraged to attend this meeting.
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established for the purpose of preserving Lake Erie's natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promoting 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 state departments of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Media Contact
Edwin Hammett, Ohio Lake Erie Commission<br />
419. 245. 2514
Heidi Hetzel-Evans, ODNR Media Relations<br />
614. 265. 6860