Are you a swimmer, kayaker, fisher, or just someone who enjoys being out on the water? Living in this region, we are lucky to have access to a plethora of waterways, including coasts, rivers, and streams. Often, we do not utilize the resources around us, including the unique Maumee watershed. Many people in our community are unaware of where to go to enjoy our natural resources. For those who are interested in trying out new activities, there is a guide book that lists what is available and where to go.
The ODNR has published a comprehensive book of all the Lake Erie public access sites. There are over 169 coastal that are free to the public along the coast line. If you are interested in enjoying the regions’ rivers, there are over 870 field-checked miles with 220 access points. Some of the features of the access points include: nature centers, birding trails, hiking trails, camping, and recreational activities. Some sites even offer horse riding trails and activities such as archery, arts and crafts, and wildlife exhibits. Each access point on the ODNR website indicates what is available at each location.
Lake Erie is truly a paddler’s paradise with historical, ecological, and cultural significance. Kayaking has become an increasingly popular hobby and our region has many access points and boat launches. Many sites also offer day-time rentals for paddleboats, canoes, and kayaks. Fishing and swimming are permissible at many locations along the coast. Recreation of all kinds is available at these sites, so no matter what your interest, this is a great resource.
To get more information on local access points, head to the ODNR’s website. We also have printed guides to Lake Erie’s public access locations (coastal and rivers) available for free at our office. Stop in today to get your copy and be a tourist in your own town!
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Meet the new Communication and Outreach Specialist – Hannah Smith. She joined us in July and is excited to be a part of the PCS team. Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, she recently received her Bachelors of Science in Environmental Management from Indiana University. Her passion for conservation and water quality began on her Boundary Waters canoe trips in middle and high school. Hiking, camping, and enjoying the wilderness led her to focus on environmental affairs for her career. Wetland mitigation and restoration have been an area of interest while interning at a non-profit called Little River Wetlands in Indiana and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Oak Harbor. She hopes to make a positive impact in water quality in her Lake Erie community.
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Registration for our 21st Annual Clean Your Streams Day will be open in early August through September 18th. This year’s CYS day will be held Saturday, September 23rd. We need your help to clean up all the trash and debris that makes its way into our waterways. If you, your family, friends, co-workers, or any other group would be interested in helping the environment and your community, please register for this event! Gather your group to compete in our friendly Battles of the Bags, and other corporate, organization, youth, or collegiate challenges. Last year we had almost 1,000 volunteers who collected over 26,000 pounds of trash! We hope to continue the success from 2016 and remove as much as we can from our local rivers and streams. We’re also still looking for sponsors. Call our office asap if you’d like to sponsor or donate prizes. Check out our website for more registration information.
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If you haven’t registered for the Water Quality Boat Cruise on the Sandpiper, now’s your last chance! We will be cohosting this event on Saturday, August 5th from 3:30 to 5:30. While cruising the Maumee River, passengers will have a chance to ask local water quality professionals questions regarding the current and future state of our waterways. Also during the cruise, passengers will be asked trivia questions about our water resource and have a chance to win prizes. This cruise is a great opportunity for community members to learn about our rivers, see wildlife, engage in conversation with peers, and discuss how we can all be part of the solution to improving our waterways.
The Sandpiper Boat leaves from the Jefferson St. dock in Promenade Park in downtown Toledo (1 Jefferson St). Registration is required for this event and can be done online or by calling our office at (419) 874-0727. There is a $5/person registration fee that attendees can pay prior to boarding the boat (cash only). Please arrive 15-20 minutes early. There may be a separate charge for street parking or in the nearby lots. This cruise is recommended for people ages 4 and up, and will happen rain or shine, unless there is severe weather. We will notify those registered in the unlikely event it will be cancelled due to weather.
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