OHIO S LAKE ERIE ECONOMICS

OHIO S LAKE ERIE ECONOMICS

Ohio Registered Watercraft: 426,674 Ohio License Fees: $5.4 million Ohio Marine Fuel Taxes: $15.4 million Ohio Div. of Watercraft / Ohio Clean Marinas / Ohio Dept. of Taxation

300 Licensed Marinas in Ohio Waters 38,000 Docks (8 counties)

Sportfishing Harvest 5.1 million lbs. Total Harvest 9.9 million lbs.

700,000 trips to fish Lake Erie in 2012 856,474 licenses 191,244 in eight counties

Charter Captains 721 Charter Fishing Revenue $9.7 million

$9.7 million = private charter revenue Ohio s Lake Erie waters ******************************************* Head Boat Revenue Fuel Sales Bait & Tackle Food & Beverage Lodging Other Activities Other States Canada

Lake Erie Sport Fishing Spending $1 Billion Annually American Sport Fishing Association

WHO BENEFITS FROM A HEALTHY LAKE ERIE Lakefront Homeowners & Realtors Lake Bordering Businesses Lake Bordering Communities Public Water Supplies Wildlife Wildlife Watchers / Outdoor Enthusiasts Visitors Places Where Visitors Spend Money

TOURISM SPENDING

OTTAWA COUNTY 2011 Total Travel Expenditures $ 312 Million Employment: 3,050 Total Wages: $ 83.2 Million Total State & Local Taxes: $ 20 Million Tourism Economics / Longwoods

ERIE COUNTY 2011 Total Travel Expenditures $ 1.2 Billion Employment: 11,778 Total Wages: $ 337.5 Million Total State & Local Taxes: $ 87.3 Million Tourism Economics / Longwoods

LUCAS COUNTY 2011 Total Travel Expenditures $ 1.7 Billion Employment: 19,591 Total Wages: $ 449 Million Total Taxes: $ 221 Million Tourism Economics / Longwoods

OHIO LAKE ERIE REGION 2011 Total Travel Expenditures $ 11.5 Billion Employment: 117,513 Total Wages: $ 3.1 Billion Total State & Local Taxes: $ 784.2 Million Tourism Economics / Longwoods

STATE of OHIO 2012 Total Travel Expenditures $ 40 Billion Employment: 440,000 Total Wages: $ 10.5 Billion Total State & Local Taxes: $ 2.7 Billion Tourism Economics / Longwoods

WHO BENEFITS FROM A HEALTHY LAKE ERIE ALL OHIO RESIDENTS!

Grand Lake St. Marys WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS HAPPENS

GRAND LAKE ST. MARYS MEDIA ATTENTION Grand Lake St. Marys dying from toxic algae Toxic algae takes over Ohio lake Algae attack at Grand Lake St. Marys Dog dies, owner ill after animal swims in algae-choked Grand Lake St. Marys Death of a lake -toxic algae closes Grand Lake St. Marys

AUGLAIZE / MERCER COUNTY 2009 Hotels Collections fell 17% in two county area. Lake real estate drops in value. Number of people using the GLSM State Campground fell 14.1%.

AUGLAIZE / MERCER COUNTY 2010 Hotel Collections drop another 7% ( 24% in two years). Number of people camping at GLSM State Park Campground falls to 46.2% of pre-algae level.

GRAND LAKE ST. MARYS SOLUTIONS Establish Treatment Training & Monitoring Stations Chemical Treatment Dredging Wetlands Creation - Aeration & Circulation Alternative & Beneficial Uses of Organic Waste/Nutrients

GRAND LAKE ST. MARYS 2011 Solutions began working No large algal bloom Locals / events returned to lake Vacation home owners returned Campground saw increased usage

AUGLAIZE / MERCER COUNTY 2012 Progress continues Visitation levels increase Lodging occupancy up over 2011

AUGLAIZE / MERCER COUNTY 2013 Lodging occupancy increases again Boating, fishing and camping activity at high levels Wetland creation project becomes visitor asset

Toxic algae warnings posted at Grand Lake St. Marys May 25, 2013 Associated Press ST. MARYS, Ohio Advisories are back up at Ohio s largest inland lake warning some visitors to stay out of the water because of high levels of toxic algae. A spokesman for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said recent test results showed toxin levels higher than the recommended threshold at Grand Lake St. Marys in western Ohio. Signs at four beaches warn seniors, children and those with compromised immune systems to stay out of the water. Cleaning up the lake been a priority for the state since 2010 when a toxic algae bloom forced officials to urge visitors not to touch the water or eat fish caught there. Natural resources spokesman Matt Eiselstein said Friday the agency was frustrated by the news, which he said served as a reminder of the lake s challenges.

Algal Bloom Lake Erie National Geographic May, 2013

03. 5.13 - Algal Blooms Threaten Lake Erie New York Times 04.01.13 Record-sized Lake Erie Algal Bloom of 2011 May Become a Regular Occurrence Plain Dealer 04.01.13 Lake Erie Algae Blooms Expected to Continue Huffington Post.com 04.24.13 Harmful Algal Blooms Plague Erie Again National Geographic.com

RESULTS OF NEGATIVE MEDIA ATTENTION Potential visitors deterred or altering activities Increase in calls from concerned visitors, can we still come? Concern for hosting of events and bringing in media

Direct Impact to Charter Fishing Industry

Trips moved to earlier in year One trip instead of two Increased fuel cost to get out of algae (1 mile/gal.) Head Boats often can t get to fish Bad customer experience = no return trips, no referrels

Protect Natural Resources WHAT CAN WE DO?

Educate Residents and Business Owners on Lake Erie Algae Issues Learn From What Others Have Experienced Present Accurate, Balanced Information Advocate for Action

PROMOTE! TV RADIO PRINT ONLINE BILLBOARDS SOCIAL NETWORKING MEDIA - RELATIONS

Support the Efforts of the Lake Erie Improvement Association Meetings Monthly on Second Wednesday Shores & Islands Welcome Center - Port Clinton Castaway Bay - Sandusky

Continue to Benefit From All that Lake Erie Provides!

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