WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that $1,216,200 has been awarded to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Office of Coastal Management by the U.S. Department of Commerce's agency of National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The funds will be used by the Lake Metroparks to acquire and protect 1,310 feet of Lake Erie shoreline in Perry Township, Ohio.
"It's critical that we preserve the coast of Lake Erie," Brown said. "Protecting the Great Lakes is about protecting our regional economy and the livelihood of thousands of Ohioans. Lake Erie is an invaluable resource -- providing a source of water for countless households, generating economic activity for the region, and providing jobs through commerce, fishing, and tourism. These funds will help preserve more of Lake Erie's coastline for future generations."
This award will also assist the Erie MetroParks and Western Reserve Land Conservancy in acquiring 18.5 acres within the Lake Erie watershed. The property will contribute to the creation of an interconnected system of protected properties on Kelleys Island. Once acquired, the property will be held in fee by Erie MetroParks, managed as a habitat for wildlife and open to the public for recreational activities.
Brown is a tireless advocate for the Great Lakes. He helped pass the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact, which establishes common stewardship goals for the Great Lakes and a common set of rules that will be followed by the eight Great Lakes states. He also fought to include more than $475 million in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget for Great Lakes cleanup - of which $14 million has been devoted to initiatives aimed at preventing an influx of Asian carp.
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