Ohio Department Of Natural Resources, Office Of Coastal Management

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Office of Coastal Management (OCM) is a state government entity responsible for managing and protecting Ohio's Lake Erie coastal resources. Registered in SAM.gov since 2006, the Coastal Management Office focuses on preserving, restoring, and responsibly developing coastal communities and ecosystems along Lake Erie's 312-mile shoreline. As a key implementer of Ohio's federally-approved Coastal Management Program, the office works to balance economic development, coastal uses, and natural resource protection through various strategic initiatives and collaborative partnerships.

Through federal grant awards, primarily from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Office of Coastal Management has undertaken diverse projects spanning habitat restoration, research, education, and climate resilience. Notable grant-funded activities include expanding the Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve's visitor center, developing comprehensive coastal geodatabases, implementing water quality monitoring programs, and creating nature-based shoreline restoration projects. The office has collaborated with multiple partners such as the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Ohio State University's Sea Grant Program, and local municipalities to execute projects under programs like the Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards, National Estuarine Research Reserve System, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law competitions. These grants, ranging from $200,000 to $4,115,000, have supported efforts in coastal hazard mitigation, economic development, recreational access enhancements, climate change adaptation, habitat protection, and public outreach across Ohio's coastal regions.