Ohio Sea Grant Contaminants of Emerging Concern Specialist Mark Warman was recently recognized by the Ohio Lake Management Society (OLMS) with the OLMS Presidents’ Award.
The Ohio Lake Management Society, a Division of the Water Management Association (WMAO) of Ohio, is a non-profit that promotes the protection of Ohio’s lakes and their watershed. Each year, OLMS and WMAO present awards to people who have made a positive impact on Ohio’s water resources. The OLMS Presidents’ Award is given to one recipient chosen for their outstanding service and contributions to the Ohio water resources community.
Mark Warman, Emerging Contaminants Extension Specialist for Ohio Sea Grant (left)
Warman was recognized at the 2025 WMAO Conference, held Nov. 12 and 13 with the theme “Flowing Forward: Ohio’s Water in Motion.” He was chosen as the recipient for the award for “personifying the first line of defense and rapid response efforts related to aquatic invasive species in the Lake Erie Basin.”
“Early detection and rapid response make all the difference, and it’s the people who make it happen,” Carter Bailey, president of OLMS, said during the announcement of the award.
At Ohio Sea Grant, Warman’s work focuses on ecology and contaminants of emerging concern, such as marine debris and microplastics, forever chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products in Lake Erie. His work aims to inform decision-making within Ohio’s Lake Erie watershed.
“It is a privilege to raise awareness about Ohio’s waterways and the challenges they face,” Warman said. “I am grateful to the Ohio Lake Management Society and many community partners who work on invasive species and contaminants to help safeguard our freshwater resources.”
Warman has been a natural resources professional for 12 years. Before joining Ohio Sea Grant in December 2024, he worked as Aquatic Invasive Species Project Manager at Cleveland Metroparks, where he also served as a naturalist and coordinator for the Hydrilla Project. Previously, he was a program manager for the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern. Warman has also worked on grant-funded projects on aquatic invasive species, working to both identify and manage them.
“Congratulations to Mark on this well-deserved honor. It’s especially meaningful that this award comes from peers in the aquatic resources realm,” said Tory Gabriel, Ohio Sea Grant extension program manager. “He’s an incredible asset to the Ohio Sea Grant team and we are thrilled to work with him.”
Ohio Sea Grant is supported by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, and NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs nation-wide dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. Stone Laboratory is Ohio State’s island campus on Lake Erie and is the research, education, and outreach facility of Ohio Sea Grant and part of CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources.