As part of Coastweek”s  International Coastal Clean-up Day, the Port Clinton Kiwanis group helped clean up Lakeview park and beach this past Saturday.  Along with thousands of other volunteers from around the Great Lakes, nine Kiwanians armed with gloves and garbage bags picked up 10 bags of litter that would have eventually ended up in Lake Erie.  “An event like this allows residents to take ownership of our local waterways.  It doesn’t  take a lot of effort to have a large impact on our water quality,” said Nonpoint Source Educator Becky Simpson.

The district would like to thank Ray Ensman, Dick Patterson, Dr. Jack Savage, Tina Burris, Anita Gribble, Bob Butcher, Glenda Phillabaum, and  Roger Akins from  the Port Clinton Kiwanis group and the City of Port Clinton for helping make this day a success.
 If an individual or an organization would like to become involved in future beach clean-ups, please contact Becky Simpson at the Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District at 419-898-1595. 

The month of September signifies the beginning of bow hunting in Ohio.

Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District announces its 2012 Fish Sale.

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge invites the public to experience the wonders of Ohio’s wildlife and their habitats up close in September. 

On Monday, Aug. 27, in the Sutton Center, Port Clinton, the International Joint Commission (IJC) hosted a public meeting, providing information about its Lake Erie Ecosystem Priority and hearing from the public about concerns regarding nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms.

The IJC was created in1909 by the Boundary Waters Treaty for the purpose of helping Canada and the U.S. protect their shared waters. It is an independent body of experts working to develop consensus findings and recommendations for their governments. All IJC members are committed to serving without bias. The IJC has direct authority to regulate water flow in the Great Lakes, and serves in an advisory capacity on water quality. Since 2002 it has been a strong advocate for action to prevent Asian carp form entering the Great Lakes.

The meeting was attended by concerned citizens from around Ottawa county and by researchers and environmentalists from across Ohio, Michigan and Ontario. The Port Clinton meeting was one of eight being held across the region. David Dempsey, Policy Advisor to the IJC, gave a brief presentation and led a pro-active discussion about our lake and its watershed and the challenges ahead.