Lake Erie Region Dredging Projects To Receive More Than $878,000 In Funding Through Ohio Waterways Safety Fund

The ODNR Division of Watercraft administers the Recreation Harbor Evaluation Program (RHEP), which provides political subdivisions; local recreation, park and conservancy districts; and state and federal agencies up to 100 percent reimbursement of dredging projects that benefit recreational boaters on Lake Erie, the Ohio River, and their respective tributaries. The RHEP funds are provided through the Ohio Waterways Safety Fund, which comprises a share of the state motor fuel tax, watercraft registration and titling fees, and funding assistance from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.

The largest grant awarded this year is $366,000 for the Conneaut Port Authority in Ashtabula County, which will fund dredging of the marina and navigation channels leading to Lake Erie from the Conneaut Lagoon Access. Other grant awards include more than $364,000 for the Vermilion Port Authority to dredge recreational navigation channels leading to Lake Erie from the Vermilion Lagoons Access in Lorain County, over $210,000 to the City of Huron for dredging of the municipal boat basin, and more than $161,000 to the City of Rossford in Wood County for excavation of the Rossford marina basin.