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Articles
 Enjoy a Fall Boating Weekend at an Ohio State Park Lodge
Looking to spend a fall weekend on the water? Check into an affordable Ohio state park lodge.
After the Dog Days of Summer
Some things remain constant: (1) Respect the water; (2) Manage your risk; and (3) Expect the unexpected. That goes for boats as well as dogs.
 Birding by Kayak
Having expensive binoculars or camera equipment near a body of water initially may not seem like the best decision. With care, however, many species of birds that are not easily spotted from land can be observed from the water.
Award Winning Map
The Division of Watercraft and staff of the Williams and Heintz Map Corporation, of Capital Heights, Maryland, earlier this year were recognized for their combined efforts in producing the Little Miami Scenic Rivers map.
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News
Cadet Graduation
 The Division of Watercraft on June 8 saw the graduation of 24 new officers, its largest class ever. The officers completed an intensive 18-week training at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy and this summer have experienced additional training during their new patrol assignments. [News Release]
Operation Dry Water Results
Division of Watercraft participated in Operation Dry Water, June 22-24, 2012, a nationwide crackdown to remove impaired boaters from public waterways. State watercraft officers contacted 3,097 recreational boaters and made 11 arrests for boating while intoxicated. As with motor vehicle operators, boat operators in Ohio are considered legally intoxicated if their blood alcohol limit reaches 0.08 percent. [2012 Results]
Ohio Clean Lakes Initiative
On July 19, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency jointly launched the Ohio Clean Lakes Initiative, a program to improve water quality and reduce Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the Western Basin of Lake Erie. HABs are threatening the ecological integrity and economic impact of Lake Erie, one of Ohio’s most precious natural resources. This initiative is based on the findings of a report the agencies released in March.
 Kayak Pond/State Fair
During the 12 days of the Ohio State Fair, 3,877 children and adults took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy paddling a kayak. The Kayak Pond in the Natural Resources Park of the Ohio State Fairgrounds has been a favorite experience of fairgoers since its opening in 2008 with well over 19,000 guests taking advantage of the free attraction. The activity will be available again during the 2013 Ohio State Fair, July 24 through August 4.
Asian Carp
Earlier this summer two species of carp native to Asia -- bighead and silver carp -- were discovered in the Ohio River and three of its tributaries in southwest Ohio. There are four known species of Asian carp that are invasive and dangerous to Ohio and the Great Lakes. These two species pose a particularly high risk for aquatic life as well as boaters in Ohio. Bighead carp can commonly weigh 40 pounds but have been recorded up to 100 pounds, and silver carp weigh about 20 pounds. Silver carp are capable of jumping great heights out of the water, potentially injuring recreational boaters and anglers. Silver and bighead carp feed on plankton and could out-compete native Ohio species that depend on plankton (e.g., yellow perch). You can help biologists track the movement of Asian carp by learning to identify them and reporting any sightings or captures.
 Take the Ohio Clean Boater Pledge!
"I pledge to be an Ohio Clean Boater and follow Best Boater Practices (BBPs) to keep oil, sewage, toxic boat cleaning and maintenance products, plastics, cigarette butts and other trash, fishing gear, and invasive species out of the water."
Pledge online at ohiocleanboater.osu.edu and receive a special thank you from the Ohio Clean Boater program staff.
Ohio Sea Grant College Program / Office of Coastal Management
105 West Shoreline Drive / Sandusky, OH 44870
419.609.4120 / 419.609.4158 fax
Fish Stocking in 2012
More than 24 million sport fish are being stocked this year in Ohio waters, which is great news for anglers and boaters. Fishing from a boat is the most popular activity among males over age 16 with 64 percent participation, and multi-species boats surpassed the "bass boat" as the most popular type at 26 percent versus 16.3 percent, according to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. The Division of Wildlife reports that fishing license sales have risen sharply in 2012.
Water Trail Updates
Mahoning River Water Trail Dedicated August 17
The Division of Watercraft joined with Trumbull County officials August 17 to officially dedicate a 23-mile section of the Mahoning River as the state's 9th Ohio Water Trail. The designation helps increase awareness of the river as a paddling destination and the importance of improved access to Ohio’s rivers and streams. A new Mahoning River Water Trail guide has been published by Trumbull County Metroparks in partnership with the Division of Watercraft. [www.ExploreTrumbullCounty.com]
Kokosing Brochure Updated; Mohican Water Trail Added
The Kokosing River Water Trail map has been updated to include many improved access points, and the new map comes with a big bonus: the Mohican Water Trail map is printed on the flipside. A downloadable version will be available soon. You can request a printed copy of the map from the Publications Request page. [www.KnoxCountyParks.org]
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Division Spotlight
East Fork Field Office
The East Fork field office is located in Clermont County about 25 miles east of Cincinnati. In a building shared with the Division of Parks & Recreation, Watercraft employees include area supervisor Lance Hopkins; administrative professional Lu Thompson; account clerk Elizabeth Cramlet; investigator Troy Thompson; education specialist Cory Cover; law enforcement specialist Matthew Kruse; officers Jason Gantt, Darren Barnett, Pat Dean, Mike Sterwerf, and Britney Chesser; and natural resource specialists Robbie Trace and Hunter Willoughby. The field office serves Clermont, Hamilton, Butler, and Brown counties.
The local area is rich in history with native inhabitants including the Adena, Hopewell, and Shawnee indians. The region also produced gold in 1869, with two mines that are now completely submerged under the reservoir. East Fork Reservoir was created in 1978 as part of the United States Army Corp of Engineers Flood Control Program. In 1981, East Fork Reservoir was renamed to Harsha Lake in honor of Congressman William H. Harsha.
The East Fork field office patrols nearly 100 miles of the Ohio River from the Indiana border to the Manchester Islands of Adams County. The perception of boating on the Ohio River is often misguided, as sections of the river are nearly a mile wide and have more of a lake atmosphere with campgrounds, restaurants, and marinas.
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Event
Cedar Point Boat Show Sept. 13-16
Division of Watercraft staff will be available to answer questions about Ohio boating rules and destinations as well as providing hands-on demonstrations of close-quarters powerboat handling during the Progressive North American In-Water Boat Show, September 13-16, at the Cedar Point Marina in Sandusky. [www.CedarPointBoatShow.com] The in-water boat show is a one-of-a kind event in Ohio and is produced and promoted by the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association. [www.LEMTA.com]
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New Registration Agents
Columbiana County: Lisbon Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 7556 State Route 45, Lisbon, OH 44432, 330-424-5155
Darke County: Darke County License Bureau, 641 Wagner Road Suite A, Greenville, OH 45331, 937-548-7134
Putnam County: Putnam County License Bureau, 275 North Hickory Street, Ottawa, OH 45875, 419-523-3210
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Staff Changes
Promotion
 Jason Latchic was promoted to Cambridge Area Supervisor beginning July 15, 2012. The Gahanna native graduated from Hocking College in 2000. He began his career with Watercraft in 2001 as a part-time officer, accepting a promotion to full-time officer in the Akron office in 2002. In 2010, Officer Latchic transferred to the Cambridge office.
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Contact Us
The Buckeye Boater is a quarterly electronic publication from the Ohio DNR Division of Watercraft.
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ODNR Division of Watercraft
2045 Morse Road, Building A
Columbus, Ohio 43229
1-877-4BOATER (Ohio only)
614-265-6480
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