When it comes to the backbone of Ohio’s economic needs, Lake Erie and the surrounding Great Lakes carry of lot of the weight. Now, according to a recent press release on U.S. Sen Rob Portman’s website, due to poorly maintained waterways, the lake requires some much-needed dredging projects.
Ohio lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), along with Reps. Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Dave Joyce (R-OH), and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), are urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to ensure Lake Erie is appropriately dredged. “All efforts must be made to ensure timely dredging of the river,” the press release, dated March 28, states. “Delays would needlessly harm the industries and businesses which rely on the river.”
USACE recently submitted a dredging request for the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor to help solve the problems; however, the request proposed disposing of all dredged sediment into Lake Erie, which the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) does not view as environmentally safe. If OEPA does not approve USACE’s dredging request, dredging would be postponed.
Photo courtesy of Damian Gadal
