Modified project summary/abstract section 1) the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $4.133 million to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management on September 1, 2026, under the Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards program (CFDA 11.419) to administer Ohio's federally approved Coastal Management Program through August 31, 2028.

The award funds administration and implementation of Ohio's coastal management activities addressing policy coordination, coastal hazards and erosion, economic development, recreation, climate change, habitat protection and restoration, water quality, permitting, technical assistance to local communities, and public access enhancement. The recipient will continue implementing the Clean Marinas Program and execute specific local projects including Lake Erie Shoreline Orthoimagery and LIDAR for Coastal Erosion Area Designation Updates, which will build on previous LIDAR datasets from 2015, 2020, and 2023 to measure coastal erosion as part of a ten-year review and update to coastal erosion area designations. The Sheffield Lake Public Access Feasibility Study will produce design concepts, engineering considerations, cost estimates, and phased implementation strategies for future construction. Place of performance is Huron, Ohio. The NOAA investment of over $2.1 million leverages over $2 million in state funds.

Modified project summary/abstract section 1) the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of ohio to help administer the ohio federally approved coastal management program. The national coastal zone management program, under the coastal zone management act, is an important voluntary federal-state partnership that protects, restores, and responsibly develops our nations coastal communities and resources by balancing economic development, coastal uses, and natural resource protection. Noaas investment of over $2.1 million is leveraging over $2 million in state funds. 2) these funds will support jobs and provide continued assistance to the ohio coastal management program to address many important coastal issues in the state including policy coordination and analysis, coastal hazards and erosion, economic development, recreation, climate change, habitat protection and restoration, water quality, coastal shoreline change, permitting, technical assistance to local communities, and enhancing public access. The coastal program will also continue implementation of the clean marinas program. 3) the award is also funding a number of local projects or initiatives including: lake erie shoreline orthoimagery and lidar for coastal erosion area designation updates which will build upon previous lidar datasets from 2015, 2020, and 2023 to measure coastal erosion along ohios coast as part of the ten-year review and update to the coastal erosion area designations. The sheffield lake public access feasibility study will produce a clear, actionable roadmap outlining design concepts, engineering considerations, cost estimates, and phased implementation strategies for future construction. This work will position sheffield lake to pursue subsequent design and construction funding while ensuring that future improvements are safe, environmentally responsible, and aligned with community priorities. The rocky river park lake access design will advance the entire master plan into the schematic design phase, providing the technical groundwork needed to implement accessibility improvements, protect the shoreline, and enhance visitor experience. Rocky river park is a vital community asset serving residents of all ages and abilities. The village of OAK harbor portage river planning will include the creation of a public access management plan for the portions of the village located within the coastal management zone (CMZ), integrating coastal resiliency, environmental stewardship, and long-term community needs. Fairport harbor coastal stabilization planning includes a comprehensive geotechnical assessment of the affected hillside. This study will generate critical technical data through subsurface exploration, geotechnical analysis, and slope-stability modeling. The resulting findings will guide the development of stabilization strategies and access-design solutions that balance engineering feasibility, environmental stewardship, and community priorities