SANDUSKY, OH - With twelve newly certified Ohio Clean Marinas located in the Lake Erie region, program administrators are looking to add more participants who will pledge to help improve the quality and health of Ohio's waterways. A series of three program workshops have been announced where interested participants can learn in detail about the Ohio Clean Marinas Program and join others who have pledged and attained Clean Marina certification.

"The workshops are the pathway used to reach out to Ohio's marina owners and operators so that we can fully introduce them to the benefits of becoming a certified Ohio Clean Marina," said program coordinator Gary L. Comer Jr.

The Ohio Clean Marinas Program is a proactive partnership among the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and other public and private sector partners that are connected to Ohio's recreational boating industry. The program is designed to encourage marinas and boaters to use simple, innovative solutions to keep Ohio's coastal and inland waterway resources clean. Ohio Clean Marinas assists these operators in protecting the resources that provide their livelihood - clean water and fresh air. Lake Erie is home to approximately 330 recreational marinas.

Ohio Clean Marina Program workshops are scheduled for:

• December 15; 9:00 a.m. to Noon
  at the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road in Bay Village;
• January 31; 12:30-3:30 p.m.
  at the Ohio Lake Erie Commission office, One Maritime Plaza in Toledo; and
• February 8; 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  at the ODNR office of Coastal Management, 105 West Shoreline Drive in Sandusky.

These informational workshops are free of charge and outline the details of the Clean Marinas Program, the benefits to marina operators and boaters and how to pledge and attain Clean Marina certification. Pre-registration is required. For more information on the Ohio Clean Marinas Program, visit the Internet web site at www.ohiocleanmarina.osu.edu.

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