Ohio's Clean Marinas Program: Impacting Water Quality through Outreach

The Ohio Clean Marinas Program is a partnership between Ohio Sea Grant, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association that encourages marinas and boaters to use best management practices to keep Ohio's coastal and inland waterway resources clean. The Program enhances environmental stewardship in the recreational boating industry by making marinas and boaters more aware of environmental laws and recommendations, and recognizing proactive members of the community as "Clean Marinas." Since 2005, training, educational outreach, and assistance have been provided to the Lake Erie marina community to aid in voluntary compliance with environmental regulations that address nonpoint source pollution and other environmental impacts on site. A Clean Boater Program was created in 2006 to further educate the boating community on environmental best management practices. In 2015, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Watercraft funded the expansion of the program statewide, engaging participants in both Lake Erie and Ohio River watersheds. Through continued efforts to strengthen and expand existing partnerships, the Ohio Clean Marinas Program serves as an example of a way for university, industry, and agency organizations to work together to achieve a common goal - improved air and water quality.