Keeping It Clean

On a warm, sunny day, the Lake Erie shore abounds with visitors. From beachgoers and swimmers to anglers and boaters, people often travel from far away to spend time on the lakeshore, and businesses in the region rely on visitor spending for much of their income.

Those businesses include recreational marinas, where private boat owners and charter captains dock their vessels when they’re not out on the lake. Because of their location right on (and in) the water, marinas along the Lake Erie shore contribute greatly to the health and wellbeing of the lake ecosystem.

A number of these marinas are Ohio Clean Marinas, meaning that they have pledged to follow a set of environmental guidelines that help protect and preserve the Lake Erie ecosystem for future generations. Their efforts have been certified by the Ohio Clean Marinas Program, a partnership between Ohio Sea Grant, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, and other agency and industry representatives.