SANDUSKY, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management has been selected as one of six sites to receive the services of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fellow for two years.
Beginning in the spring of 2005, the visiting fellow will assist in completing the Lake Erie Shore Erosion Management Plan. The plan is a tool for local communities and individual property owners to use in addressing lake-based erosion and flooding concerns, resulting in the restoration of shore and near-shore habitats and resources. The plan will also be used to support protection and restoration of valuable coastal property.
The Office of Coastal Management’s project was selected as a fellowship site based on the value and design of its project and the state’s commitment to the effort.
NOAA’s coastal fellowship program was established in 1996 to provide on-the-job education and training opportunities in coastal resource management and policy for postgraduate students. The program also assists coastal management programs around the country with protection and restoration. NOAA pays approximately 80 percent of the fellow’s $32,000 annual salary plus benefits. The Office of Coastal Management pays the remainder of the salary and provides office space and work-related materials.
The Office of Coastal Management administers the federally approved Ohio Coastal Management Program. The program assists state, local and federal entities in addressing issues concerning preservation, restoration and enhancement of Ohio’s Lake Erie coastal region for the benefit of all Ohio citizens. The office annually administers $2.3 million in federal grants to assist in achieving Ohio’s vision of healthy, vital coastal ecosystems and prosperous coastal communities.