Port Clinton and Ottawa County were among 23 Ohio communities sharing $578,578 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to support local marine patrol units. Provided by the Ohio Division of Parks and Watercraft, the funds represent a continuing effort to keep Ohio waterways safe and enhance recreational boating experiences.

The Port Clinton Harbor Patrol will receive $22,062, and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department will get $21,745.

“We always want outdoor recreation to be safe,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “Marine patrol grants give us an opportunity to reinvest boater dollars in Ohio communities to help ensure safe enjoyable recreation statewide.”

The 2021 Marine Patrol Assistance grants will help local law enforcement agencies provide emergency response to boating-related incidents, conduct routine waterway patrols, and purchase safety equipment for use on marine patrol vessels.

Geographically, this year’s grant recipients include the Lake Erie and Ohio River regions as well as in counties with multiple inland lakes. A complete list of recipients by county follows.

In 2020, Ohioans registered more than 593,685 watercraft, a growth of over 51,000 in the last three years. Over the last decade, there has been a 196% percent increase in kayak and canoe registrations (including liveries). Overall, Ohio currently ranks sixth in the nation in state recreational boat registrations

Boating-related fatalities on Ohio waterways have declined by 15 percent since 2010.