The old woman creek national estuarine research reserve (OWC nerr), designated in 1980, is in huron, ohio, adjacent to lake erie

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management, a cooperative agreement totaling $1.33 million on September 1, 2026, under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420) to support operations, research, monitoring, education, and stewardship activities at the Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve (OWC NERR) through August 31, 2028.

OWC NERR, designated in 1980 and located in Huron, Ohio adjacent to Lake Erie, will implement system-wide and site-specific monitoring programs to track environmental variability and ecosystem services. The reserve will deliver hands-on educational experiences for K–12 students, teachers, and the public to increase Lake Erie ecosystem literacy, provide science-based training for coastal professionals, and advance stewardship initiatives to control invasive species, restore habitats, and improve watershed health. These activities focus on coastal ecosystem health and resilience, nutrient-reduction strategies, and adaptive management, particularly significant given that approximately 95 percent of Ohio's historic coastal wetlands have been lost.

NOAA obligated $931,000 in federal funds for fiscal year 2026. The recipient will match this with $399,000 in non-federal funds from the Lake Erie Shoreline 5140 Fund for the same period. The place of performance is Huron, Ohio.

The reserve is administered under the ohio department of natural resources (ODNR) office of coastal management (OCM), which is submitting this application for federal funds to support operations, research and monitoring, education, training, and stewardship activities from september 1, 2026, through august 31, 2028. ODNR is requesting $931,000 in federal funds for FY 2026. These federal funds will be matched with $399,000 in non-federal funds for FY2026 from the lake erie shoreline 5140 fund. The reserve serves as a hub for research, education, stewardship, and training focused on coastal ecosystem health and resilience. Its mission is to advance scientific understanding of estuarine systems, promote environmental literacy, and foster collaborative partnerships that address regional environmental challenges. With approximately 95% of ohios historic coastal wetlands lost, OWC nerr provides an irreplaceable platform for research on nutrient-reduction strategies, habitat restoration, and adaptive management. Through this grant, OWC nerr will continue to: implement system-wide and site-specific monitoring programs to track environmental variability and ecosystem services. Deliver hands-on educational experiences for K12 students, teachers, and the public to increase lake erie ecosystem literacy. Provide science-based training for coastal professionals. Advance stewardship initiatives to control invasive species, restore habitats, and improve watershed health.