Ohio Coastal Management Program

05/26/2026

Snakes aren't scary! The return of warm, sunny days means that ectothermic (cold-blooded) reptiles like snakes will be out basking to warm their bodies. Many snakes, like this northern watersnake, can be spotted on rocks, in lawns and in low-hanging branches above water.

As they soak up the sun, they gather the energy they need to move around, catch food, and digest it. Northern watersnakes are nonvenomous and really just want to be left alone to sunbathe (relatable!), so you can enjoy viewing them from a distance when you spot one.

Have you seen snakes recently?🐍

05/13/2026

We are often touched by inquiries about spreading ashes in Lake Erie, and we are happy to share that it is indeed allowed without the need for a permit. Should you plan to hold a memorial or ceremony in a park along Lake Erie, we encourage you to connect with the park manager to determine if any event permissions are required.

05/09/2026

USS Cleveland

05/08/2026

Track the voyage of the USS Cleveland at: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:8829059/zoom:9

The schedule for tomorrow (Saturday) is:
Vermilion: Main Street Beach 8:45 a.m.
Avon Lake: Veterans Memorial Park 9:45 a.m.
Bay Village: Huntington Beach 10 a.m.
Rocky River: Bradstreet's Landing 10:15 a.m.
Lakewood: Solstice Steps 10:30 a.m.
Cleveland: Edgewater Park 10:40 a.m.

MarineTraffic Live Ships Map. Discover information and vessel positions for vessels around the world. Search the MarineTraffic ships database of more than 550000 active and decommissioned vessels. Search for popular ships globally. Find locations of ports and ships using the near Real Time ships map...

05/08/2026

Yesterday, we celebrated Cleveland Metroparks’ announcement of a major milestone in advancing the Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Strategy (CHEERS), with nearly $1.1 million in federal funding to support the next phase of the project. Supported through a variety of local, State, and Federal funding, the CHEERS project is a transformational, multi-partner initiative designed to expand public access to the lakefront while strengthening coastal resilience, enhancing ecological habitat, and supporting critical maritime infrastructure. (photo courtesy Cleveland Metroparks)

05/06/2026

Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea Grant are hiring! We have two job openings currently: A Biological Field Station Assistant position and a Stone Laboratory Continuing Education Consultant position.

The Biological Field Station Assistant will assist in preparation of seasonal programming at Stone Laboratory; assists in operation of Stone Laboratory field trip program, Science days at the South Bass Island Lighthouse and other outreach events; assists with field research; and leads scientific classroom activities for grades 5-12 school groups. Position located in Put-in-Bay, Ohio.

Learn more and apply at https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Research-Stations-Ag-Operations/Biological-Field-Station-Assistant_R149293-1.

The Stone Lab Continuing Education Consultant will be based in Northwest Ohio and lead education and outreach initiatives that support the mission of Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab, including curriculum development, teacher education and training programs, care and handling of Stone Lab’s captive fish and herpetofauna colonies, co-supervision and training of Stone Lab seasonal staff, and more.

Learn more and apply at https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Research-Stations-Ag-Operations/Stone-Laboratory-Continuing-Education-Consultant_R150497-1.

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Pictured here is the Stone II docked near the Stone Lab research building on South Bass Island. Gibraltar Island is in the background. White text reads 'We are hiring' around the Stone II boat.

05/02/2026

Stop out and see us from 10:00 to 2:00 today (Saturday) at Sheldon Marsh for the 50th anniversary celebration!

05/01/2026

Exciting research from Bowling Green State University partly funded through a Coastal Management Assistance Grant from the Ohio Program!

What if the solution to Lake Erie's algae problem was also the key to better harvests? A BGSU researcher is converting dredged sediment into a potential game-changer for agriculture, and the early results are drawing attention from farmers, scientists and policymakers alike. Read more: https://bit.ly/3MKzs70

04/27/2026

ICYMI - Two public hearings related to the redevelopment of the former power plant site are on the agenda for tonight's City Council meeting, which will be held in Council Chambers at CityHall at 7:00 p.m.

1️⃣ Establishing a Lakefront Mixed-Use Overlay District.
2️⃣ Rezoning 43.23 acres to Special Commerce District (B-3).

Rezoning the power plant site is about more than just moving lines on a map. It is a first phase in a long-term redevelopment process to transform a legacy industrial site into a vibrant part of our community. We hope you can join us and share your voice in this process.

Can't make it? Tonight's meeting will be livestreamed on Facebook and the Avon Lake Community TV app, which is available free from the App Store and Google Play. Get the app ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/ALC-TV-App.

04/23/2026