COLUMBUS, OH -- The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (LEC) will hold its quarterly meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Lazarus Government Center, 122 S. Front Street in Columbus.
A progress report will be provided on the activities of the Balanced Growth Blue Ribbon Task Force. The task force is charged with developing land-use strategies that will balance the protection of the Lake Erie watershed with continued economic growth in the region.
The commission will also consider recommendations for funding its latest round of small grant projects from the Lake Erie Protection Fund.
Additional agenda items include reports from the commission's advisory organizations: the Ohio Coastal Resource Management Project; the Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency; Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments; and the Ohio Sea Grant College Program.
All meetings of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission are open to the public and include a public comment period. Organizations and citizens are urged to attend this meeting and provide input on issues of concern.
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is comprised of the directors of the Ohio departments of the environmental protection agency, natural resources, transportation, development, health and agriculture. The commission was established to preserve Lake Erie's natural resources, water quality and ecosystem. It also promotes economic development in the region.
The commission oversees the Ohio Lake Erie Protection Fund (LEPF). During the last 11 years, the commission has raised nearly than $7 million through the sale of Lake Erie license plates. This money is used to fund LEPF grants that focus on improving the quality of Lake Erie and to furthering the goals laid out in the Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Plan.