The Ohio Coastal Management Program
The Ohio coastal region is highly developed with 2.65 million people living in the eight counties that border Lake Erie. Historically a focal point for commerce, industry and agriculture, Lake Erie and its watershed are also Ohio’s leading destination for outdoor recreation and nature tourism.
In learning to balance diverse economic and environmental interests, the Ohio Coastal Management Program sets forth the guidelines for wise use of Ohio’s valuable coastal resources to ensure their continued benefit for this and future generations.
The Ohio Coastal Management Program requires the ODNR to monitor all state actions which could affect coastal resources, and to resolve conflicts between state agency decisions and the provisions of the OCMP.
The cooperative action of the state and its political subdivisions in implementing the Ohio Coastal Management Program results in a comprehensive, coordinated approach for the protection, preservation and orderly development of the state’s Lake Erie coastal resources
The Ohio Coastal Management Program (OCMP)
- Describes current state coastal legislation and management policies.
- Is based on an Networking Framework and process for linking state programs, agencies, and laws while integrating federal and local agencies and organizations.
- Summarizes state laws and regulations included in the OCMP into policy statements which are organized into Nine Issue Areas listed in detail below.
- Designates a Coastal Management Area Boundary which includes all of the waters of Lake Erie to the international boundary with Canada, the islands in the lake, the bed of the lake, and adjacent shorelands within Ohio. The inland coastal management boundary of the Ohio coastal area includes all shorelands subject to erosion or flooding, estuarine areas and wetlands, and other areas the use of which may directly and significantly affect Lake Erie waters. (See Designated Coastal Management Area Boundary)
- Designates Geographic Areas of Particular Concern including critical fish habitat, ports and harbors, state nature preserves and wildlife areas, coastal erosion and flood hazard areas, public parks and access areas, wetlands, historic and archeological sites and those portions of Areas of Concern designated by the International Joint Commission that lie within the proposed OCMP management boundary. Seven specific areas are identified as Areas for Preservation and Restoration - these are primarily state nature preserves of exceptional value. The APR designation helps guide resource managers to restore or preserve the specific ecological, historic, or aesthetic values of these areas. These areas and a process for future designation of special management areas are described in Chapter 6 of Part II.
(photo: Coastal Erosion on Lake Erie)
Nine Issue Areas Described in the OCMP
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Coastal Erosion and Flooding
The Ohio DNR is responsible for implementing a comprehensive coastal erosion and flood plain management program with the following elements: 
- Delineate 30 year coastal erosion areas. Maps delineating Lake Erie coastal erosion areas are available for public review by contacting the Office of Coastal Management.
- Enforce rules regulating new structures in Coastal Erosion Areas.
- Allow local authorities to adopt erosion area management regulations in compliance with state policies.
- Administer a permit system for erosion control structures.
- Provide technical assistance for erosion control projects and permit process standardization.
- Coordinate with the Army Corps of Engineers as provided for in the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.
- Enforce compliance by local governments with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
- Require that state agencies, in licensing and permitting, mandate compliance with the NFIP when their regulatory jurisdiction preempts local regulations, and prohibit financial disaster assistance within noncompliant counties and municipalities.
- Regulate design and construction of dams, dikes and levees.
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Water Quality
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) is responsible for implementing the state’s water quality program. The objectives of this program are to:
- Assure attainment of State Water Quality Standards
- Provide financial support for research and pollution abatement projects
- Promote soil and water conservation and prevention of agricultural and urban sediment pollution in cooperation with ODNR
- Implement the Ohio Nonpoint Source Management program in cooperation with ODNR through a broad matrix of authorities.
(photo: U.S. EPA Peter Wise Lake Guardian)
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Wetlands and other Ecologically Sensitive Resources
The ODNR and Ohio EPA share authority for protecting Ohio's coastal wetlands and other ecologically sensitive resources. The  Ohio EPA regulates certain activities in wetlands through its state water quality laws, particularly through certification of federally-permitted and licensed activities pursuant to section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Ohio EPA’s certification process includes a sequenced review which requires projects to avoid, minimize, and mitigate for any loss of wetlands. The ODNR also has authority to acquire, manage, and restore coastal wetlands. The programs require the state to:
- Regulate wetland development activities through section 401 certification of compliance with the State’s water quality standards, including the anti-degradation policy
- Develop and maintain a statewide wetlands inventory and data base
- Acquire, protect and restore coastal wetlands
- Protect habitat of rare and endangered species
- Restrict the taking and possession of threatened native animal species
- Restrict the taking, removal, transportation and sale of endangered or threatened native plant species.
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Ports and Shoreline Development
The ODNR has broad authority to protect the public trust in Lake Erie waters and underlying lands through the submerged lands leasing program, submerged lands preserves, and permits for salvage and recovery of submerged abandoned property.
(photo link: Ohio Coastal Atlas Chapter 13 Transportation)
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Recreation and Cultural Resources 
The ODNR is responsible for implementing a comprehensive plan to improve public access to Lake Erie's shoreline and waters through the following principal programs:
- Protect public access rights through the submerged lands leasing program
- Provide for public access within the state nature preserve system, state parks system and state wildlife areas
- Prepare, maintain and update a Lake Erie public access facilities inventory; assess needs and prepare plans and policy recommendations to increase public access
- Provide grants for public access improvements
- Protect historically and archaeologically significant resources and abandoned submerged property
- Regulate watercraft safety
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Fish and Wildlife Management
The ODNR is responsible for management of all commercial and non-commercial taking of fish and wildlife as well as the protection of non-game and endangered species. The ODNR is required to:
- Regulate the taking of fish and wildlife
- Protect all wildlife including nongame and endangered species
- Investigate water pollution, fish kills and stream litter
- Protect fish habitat.
(photo: Blanding's Turtle)
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Environmental Quality
The Ohio EPA implements a broad range of air quality, solid waste, and hazardous waste programs to protect Ohio's natural resources so as to:
- Attain and maintain National Ambient Air Quality Standards
- Regulate hazardous, solid and infectious waste facilities
- Enforce requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
- Establish long range solid and hazardous waste management plans and hazardous waste pollution prevention plans. The Ohio Department of Health regulates marina construction. ODNR, Ohio EPA and other state and local law enforcement officers prohibit the dumping of litter.
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Energy and Mineral Resources 
The ODNR implements management programs regarding oil and gas, and mineral development for Lake Erie as well as surface mining, while the Ohio Power Siting Board is responsible for the coordinated review of major energy facilities. Key authorities:
- Require certification of major utility facilities
- Require 10-year demand, resource and site inventory forecasts for energy generation and transmission activities
- Regulate oil and gas extraction
- Regulate removal of minerals and other substances from Lake Erie and from under its lake bed
- Regulate permit issuance for surface mining
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Water Quantity
The ODNR implements several authorities that affect the withdrawal of waters from Lake Erie. These programs:
- Regulate water diversions from Lake Erie
- Require large facilities to register capacity and submit annual withdrawal reports
- Develop a long-term water resources plan for the Lake Erie Basin. (See Great Lakes Compact)
Achievements of the Ohio Coastal Management Program
In addition to a cleaner, healthier Lake Erie and coastal region, participation in the national Coastal Zone Management Act has brought Ohio benefits including:
- Receiving more than $2 million annually from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The money is used to carry out goals in the Ohio Coastal Management Program, improving the quality of Lake Erie and the quality of life for all Ohioans.
- Ensuring federal agencies that undertake, fund or permit projects in the coastal zone area comply with all state laws and regulations.
- Increasing Ohio’s influence at the regional and national level in addressing issues of vital interest to Ohio citizens.
- Awarding more than $34 million Ohio Coastal Management Program Grants 1998-2007
- Producing elements of the Ohio Coastal Atlas Project which has won two national awards for excellence
- See more accomplishments in the 2007 Office of Coastal Management Annual Review (2.1 MB pdf)
For more information
Ohio Revised Code Section 1506: Coastal Management
Ohio Administrative Code Section 1501-6
Ohio Coastal Management Program Document
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