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Oct
1
Written by:
news editor
10/1/2008 1:00 AM
09/30/08 The 2008 Ohio Lake Erie Awards were presented today to Dr. Robert Heath
Ohio Lake Erie Awards Presented to Northeast Ohio leadership in Research and Sustainability in the Region
Dr. Robert Heath and Green City Blue Lake Institute
 TOLEDO, OH - The 2008 Ohio Lake Erie Awards were presented today to Dr. Robert Heath, Professor Emeritus of Kent State University, and to the Green City Blue Lake Institute (formerly EcoCity Cleveland) of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Sean Logan, chairman of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) made the presentation, which is given annually to an individual and organization that has demonstrated exceptional stewardship of Lake Erie.
"It is an honor to recognize Dr. Robert Heath and the Green City Blue Lake Institute for their long-standing commitment to the stewardship of Ohio's waters," said ODNR Director Sean Logan. "They recognize and embody the extent to which our economic health and the health of our natural resources are connected. They have been great friends to Lake Erie and have supported us as we work to create a state where business, families and nature can prosper."
Dr. Robert Heath recently retired as the director of the Kent State University's Water Resources Research Institute which is a leading facility actively supporting water quality research and water management in Northeast Ohio. Dr. Heath is an expert in the vitality of fresh water ecosystems and has pioneered research in Lake Erie's biological community including extensive studies on the effects of zebra mussels in Ohio's Great Lake. Dr. Heath serves on the Emeritus Faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences of KSU and on the Board of the International Association for Great Lakes Research.
 GreenCityBlueLake Institute was originally created through the efforts of EcoCity Cleveland, a nonprofit organization under the direction of David Beach, which has been a center of sustainability activities and planning efforts in Northeast Ohio since 1992. EcoCity Cleveland has facilitated numerous collaborative projects along with the influence of its websites and publications that have received nationwide recognition. In 2007, EcoCity Cleveland merged with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and together their work has become the sustainability center for Northeast Ohio.
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission and its members are proud to present the 2008 Ohio Lake Erie Awards to both these acclaimed leaders for their outstanding contributions to Ohio's GreatLake.
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.
The Commission also oversees the Ohio Lake Erie Protection Fund, which is the source of grant money for projects that benefit the lake's watershed economically and environmentally. The 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.
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For Further Information Contact:
Edwin J. Hammett, Lake Erie Commission
(419) 245-2514
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