ODNR chief talks about boating

By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

March 16, 2009 11:05 pm

— ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — The chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resource, Division of Watercraft, is coming to town to talk about the state’s boating programs.
The Ashtabula Township Park Commission, in cooperation with the Ashtabula River Watershed Steering Committee, announced Monday that Pam Dillon will be the guest speaker at a meeting 7 p.m. March 25 at the Park Commission’s Administrative Office, 1700 E. First St., at Lake Shore Park.
Dillon will discuss the state’s boating programs, including the proposed transfer of management of Ohio’s Scenic Rivers Program with ODNR from its Division of Natural Areas and Preserves at the Division of Watercraft.
A 46-mile portion of the Ashtabula River and its tributary streams was officially designated in October as Ohio’s 14th state scenic river. This appointment gave Ashtabula County three designated rivers: Conneaut Creek, Grand River and the Ashtabula River.
The Ashtabula Township Park Commission boasts four miles of the designated Ashtabula River within its Indian Trails Park.
“Indian Trails is a 405-acre park that gives fishermen public access to great steelhead fishing,” said Michael Wayman, commission chairman. “The commission also has one of the region’s few public boat launch ramps located right on Lake Erie at Lake Shore Park.”
Lake Shore Park is just east of the north end of Route 11.
Outside of Ashtabula County, Ohio’s other scenic rivers are: The Big and Little Darby, the Chagrin State, the Kokosing, the Little Beaver Creek, the Little Miami, the Maumee, the Olentangy, the Sandusky, the Stillwater/Greenville Creek and the Upper Cuyahoga.