Ohio Agency Briefs

Agency Briefs

ODNR: Ohio watercraft officers are cracking down on boating under the influence.  The DNR will participate in Operation Dry Water June 26 to 28 as a way to curb the number of accidents and death tied to boating and the use of drugs and alcohol.  "Drinking and boating are a combination that can lead to serious and even deadly, consequences," said Mike Miller, chief of the division of watercraft. "It is critical for operators and passengers to stay sober and stay safe at all times while boating."  Ohio law defines boating under the influence as the operation of a boat with a BAC of .08 or higher.

State Veterinarian Tony Forshey and Ohio Poultry Association executive vice president Jim Chakeres this week briefed the House Agriculture & Rural Development Committee on the status of avian flu in Ohio.  The disease was confirmed in the US in 2014 and has not yet been found in Ohio. But officials have cancelled all live bird exhibitions as a precautionary measure to stop the potential spread of the illness.  "Minimizing the potential for exposure is the best defense against having one of these viruses becoming established in Ohio," Dr. Forshey said.

EPA: Applications are being accepted for grant funding for projects aimed at reducing nutrients in Lake Erie. About $2 million in funding is available for projects that are innovative or highly effective within the Lake Erie Watershed, according to the EPA.  Projects can include stream restoration, dam removal, wetland restoration or re-naturalization, sediment and nutrient reduction and more. Applications are due Aug. 14 for funding during FY 2016. Mail applications to Russ Gibson or Martha Spurbeck at the Ohio EPA/Division of Surface Water, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH. 43216. For more information, visit the EPA's website.