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Saving Lake Erie We can no longer take our greatest resource for granted.
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How You Can Help
Maintaining a Healthy Lake Sharing appreciation and concern for Lake Erie and its future drives Lake Erie Foundation members to forward its mission. By Kristen Hampshire
RESTORE AND PROTECT — sustain and celebrate. The Lake Erie Foundation’s mission is to create and maintain a healthy Lake Erie. That includes minimizing the impact of invasive species, promoting sustainable practices and supporting efforts that revitalize and foster the lake’s resilience. When the lake is healthy, so is our water, food and wildlife. In fact, Lake Erie is considered the most productive Great Lake because of the fish population and fishing industry. “Lake Erie is vital to the state for so many reasons — it’s the drinking water for 11 million people,” says Lee Alexakos, a Lake Erie Foundation board member who got involved at the ground level in 2016 when the organization consisted of about a dozen concerned individuals who were invested in
focusing attention on and advocating for Lake Erie and its health. She and other Lake Erie Foundation members want to make sure there is a strong focus on addressing threats to the lake such as plastics contamination, harmful algal blooms and detrimental projects like off-shore wind turbines. One of the foundation’s key goals is to implement the Lake Erie Plan, a comprehensive campaign that seeks to achieve the 40% nutrient reduction goal that science shows is necessary for a clean lake. “When I had an opportunity to help through the foundation, it was very personal to me,” Alexakos says, echoing the feeling of her board member colleagues and the now 500-plus members who include interested citizens, property owners, anglers and boaters. Our Great Lake is an asset — a wonder.
“It’s a form of transportation for all types of commerce, and it’s a form of recreation for fishing, boating, vacationing,” Alexakos relates. “It’s also vital to the region’s tourism economy — billions of dollars are spent on tourism that extend on and around Lake Erie.” Not to mention, the lake borders Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and the province of Ontario, Canada. “Because of the connectivity of the Great Lakes, our lake is not isolated,” Alexakos continues, explaining the impact Lake Erie has far beyond the region. “We are proud as a young foundation that our ability to effectively communicate the issues has led to frequent invitations to participate in meetings and conferences with government officials and stakeholders of Lake Erie related to the health of the lake,” Alexakos says.
was right before zebra muscles became an issue,” he says. Next came Asian carp and blue-green algae. “I support Lake Erie Foundation because we need the funding to do the research and ensure that they can be a concern of the past,” he says. “Lake Erie is resilient, but like anything else, not bulletproof. My family and I love the lake life and we want to ensure that future generations can have the same experience, and that is why Lake Erie Foundation is so important.”
Business and Pleasure “Looking out on the water in the morning is the greatest gift,” says Ken Spero, whose lake lifestyle is how he spends down time and up time, as a builder and remodeler focused on lakefront homes and luxury residences. He’s also a Howard Hanna real estate agent who has become a go-to in the Port Clinton and Catawba Island area for special spaces with Erie views. Spero has been at the ground level of watching lake recreation and living
Our Lake, Our Life, Our Livelihood
THOM SHERIDAN
Lake Erie Foundation members share memories and why they feel inspired to protect and restore the lake.
A Way of Life From the time he could walk, Jason Clemons would spend days on the lake — and between raising his family on Lake Erie to fishing, hunting and owning a business, Clemons Boats in Sandusky, “Lake Erie is a way of life,” he says. “It has truly shaped me as a person.” Clemons recalls a zebra muscle invasion and catching his first “goby” at 16. “I had no idea what it was, and that
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explode, and that includes during the pandemic when many more people embraced outdoor activities on the water and discovered the joy of lake life. “I have an understanding of the true benefits of the lake,” Spero says, pointing to issues that the foundation addresses, such as offshore wind power and overall lake health. “Now is the time to support the Lake Erie Foundation.”
Sailing On & Sustaining the Lake Sailboat racing and a love of the lake is a family tradition for the Hunger family, from participating in the Cleveland Yachting Club (CYC) sail camp to competing on college teams. Fred Hunger first got involved in sailing at age 8, racing on weekends aboard his father’s Pearson commander named CrackerJack. Hunger was the regatta chairman for the CYC Thistle Nationals in 2021, where more than 100 boats from across the country competed on the Lake Erie waters. “Lake Erie provides a unique
offering of big water with fresh water — something you cannot achieve on the East, Gulf or West coasts,” he says.
“Lake Erie is near and dear to my heart. A passion for the lake was passed on to my children, and whenever we are on the lake, it makes our time more special.” — Lee Alexakos,
Lake Erie Foundation Board Member
As for involvement in Lake Erie Foundation, Hunger says he feels a sense of urgency to assure that the waters do not deteriorate. “Whether it’s a farm runoff issue, which has caused severe algae in the lake, or the threat of industrial wind turbines, or the fight to stop invasive species, we all need to fight to preserve the beauty and traditions of our Great Lake for future generations.”
Play & Stay
Thank you Lake Erie Foundation for your efforts in protecting our great lake! Lake Erie is a vital resource to Shores & Islands Ohio. It is an intregal part of how we play, work, and live. Our home is more than just a place, it’s a feeling. Whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned regular, experiences here stay in your heart for a lifetime. Find your Lake Erie Love at SHORESandISLANDS.com.
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Anchored on Erie When Micah Roberts was 16, she spent the summer living and working on Put-in-Bay at the Boardwalk and Crew’s Nest restaurants — and the experience unlocked an appreciation for Lake Erie and the surrounding natural resources. Roberts owns Erie & Anchor, a boutique source for nautical products, gifts, apparel and more. What makes the business unique is how it gives 5% of every purchase to Lake Erie Foundation. “When I started my brand, I wanted to give back to keep our Great Lake clean and make sure it is around for generations to come,” she says. “By supporting Lake Erie Foundation’s initiatives and research, we are helping find ways to continue educating people on issues like single-use plastics and algae blooms. At the store, we provide information about things locals can do in small ways to make a big impact.” — Kristen Hampshire
LAKE ERIE FOUNDATION
LAKE ERIE Forever Lake Erie Foundation’s three key initiatives focus on ensuring safe, clean and sustainable waters for generations to come. By Kristen Hampshire
Our Great Lake is sensitive — it’s an ever-evolving ecosystem that requires understanding and stewardship to maintain its health, viability and sustainability. Lake Erie Foundation is a strong voice for protecting and restoring Lake Erie. The foundation works at local, state and federal levels to affect regulations that will reduce pollution and restore the quality of Lake Erie’s waters. Here are three key pillars for Lake Erie Foundation and how you too can help protect and restore the lake.
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“We led the charge and got the initiative built into the 2022 budget for H2Ohio, and now The Ohio State University is leading the program,” Fisher says, relating how the foundation worked with scientists, legislators and key thought leaders to design programs that offered guidance to farmers along with funding and other resources. “We want to be the organization that uses science to solve issues impacting Lake Erie,” Fisher says. WHAT YOU CAN DO: • Education and outreach are the focus areas of the foundation’s algae bloom initiatives. “Learning about what causes algae blooms is the key,” Fisher says. • Check out lake forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to know when the lake is safe for swimming. • Get involved in the foundation. “We offer informative newsletters and encourage support to push programs such as the pilot study along,” Fisher says.
The Real Picture of Plastics Contamination You might not think about taking a straw from a restaurant to sip on a cool drink or packaging a sandwich in a baggie. But if you were kayaking down a river or tributary that flows into Lake Erie and saw debris floating along, the impact of plastics contamination in Lake Erie is front and center. “The current situation is worse than anyone can imagine,” says Peter Huston, Lake Erie Foundation board member. “The problem is, there are
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Addressing Algae Blooms Start with heavy rains in late spring, add heat in early summer — and you’ve got a toxic recipe for harmful algae blooms. “We’ve been fortunate during the last few years because of the timing of big rainfalls that the lake has not had significant algae blooms in the western basin,” says Matt Fisher, Lake Erie Foundation board member. But relying on Mother Nature’s clock to protect the lake is an unhealthy risk. And pointing fingers at the vital farming industry and associated phosphorus
runoff is unproductive and unfair. “Farmers need support instituting programs to help them keep nutrients on their crops. The dynamics of producing enough food have changed, however farming regulations have not necessarily kept up,” Fisher says. Lake Erie Foundation supports the state program H2Ohio, launched in 2019, as a comprehensive water quality initiative. Funding allows H2Ohio to help reduce phosphorus runoff from farms through science-based best practices, along with providing funding to communities to help them pay for water infrastructure upgrades. “We respect the farmers who have adopted the program to participate in H2Ohio,” Fisher says of the voluntary program. Currently, about 30% of Northwest Ohio’s acreage is on the program. Importantly, Lake Erie Foundation led a 75-farm pilot project in conjunction with The Ohio State University, University of Toledo, Heidelberg College and Kent State University. Participating farms received incremental resources to help them reduce nutrient runoff and put best practices in place.
no pollution standards for plastics, but the number of parts-per-million in our water is alarmingly high.” Reducing plastics contamination is a key focus area for Lake Erie Foundation — and the impact goes beyond the lake. “We need to establish an allowable maximum plastics contamination level for our waters very quickly because right now it is not measured,” Huston says. “Contaminants are getting into the water we drink, the beer we produce and the food we eat.” The message is simple and essential: Reduce, reuse and recycle. “We have to do our best to reduce our dependence on plastics, and the plastics we do use we need to reuse and not make them one-offs that get thrown away,” Huston says. “And we have to do our best to recycle what we can.”
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Have Fun. Make Memories. Boat Responsibly.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: • Skip the straws. “If you’re at a restaurant, ask for your drink in a glass or reusable container,” Huston suggests. Paper straws break down. • Understand recycling rules. The clamshells that hold fruit like berries? Not recyclable. Prescription bottles — those are recyclable, but the caps are not. “Bad recycling is worse than no recycling,” Huston says. Review your municipality’s recycling rules. • Bring a reusable bag to the stores instead of using plastic grocery bags. • Save and reuse takeout containers for use at home. • Use a refillable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. • Buy clothes made from natural fibers and shop at second hand or consignment shops.
In partnership with the National Safe Boating Council
Ohio Photo: National Safe Boating Council
• Support elected officials who support regulations on single-use plastics and the harmful chemicals they contain.
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Lipaj is speaking of the proposed Icebreaker turbine project by Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo), which claims to focus on six off-shore turbines 10 miles off the Cleveland coast, forming the country’s first offshore freshwater windfarm. Within 10 to 15 years, the project
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The True Power Picture: Project Icebreaker Millions of birds migrate across Lake Erie in spring and fall, and the renowned Audubon Society has declared the lake as an Important Birding Area. In fact, the Western Lake Erie Basin holds the largest concentration of waterfowl in Ohio during migration. Wind turbines in the lake would create an undetermined negative impact on the thriving aviary community. Lake Erie’s resorts and rentals are sought-after vacation spots that fuel a vibrant tourism economy, provide jobs and add to business growth. “There are 130,000 jobs and spending of nearly $17 billion annually that comes from Lake Erie tourism in Ohio alone,” says Lake Erie Foundation Board Member John Lipaj. “For those people who love to visit Cleveland and come to the Lake Erie shores, placing an electric facility out in the lake would detract from the natural beauty.”
vision is to produce 5,000 megawatts, which translates to about 1,600 wind turbines in Lake Erie. “This is a precedent-setting project,” Lipaj says, emphasizing that Lake Erie Foundation is pushing for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Study versus the less reliable Environmental Assessment that was completed. The Ohio Power Siting Board unanimously decided to include 33 critical conditions in a permit to build the wind turbines — an action the foundation applauds because of the range of “misnomers” related to the project, Lipaj says. For one, the initial six-turbine project is a gateway to hundreds more — a windfarm. Also, the 500-plus jobs LEEDCo says Icebreaker will generate actually boils down to about 159 temporary construction jobs and nine permanent jobs. Then there’s the actual cost of wind power. “People think that it’s a great source of energy that does not pollute the environment
and it’s free because the wind blows,” Lipaj says. “Really, the wind blows about one-third of the time. And when it’s not blowing, you need a traditional source of electric power for backup.” As a longtime sailor, Lipaj relates how the times of year when we use our air conditioning the most — July and August — tend to be when the winds aren’t filling up sails. “From a practical perspective, if the wind turbines aren’t generating power the traditional sources have to run full blast to keep up,” he says. Wind power isn’t free. “When you look behind the curtain, it’s not what it is cut out to be,” Lipaj says, relating that the agreed-upon purchase agreement for power from Icebreaker is five to six times more than what the city of Cleveland would pay from the existing grid. Plus, the project is projected to cost roughly $173 million. “That is three to four times as much as it would cost to build wind turbines on-shore,” he says.
Lake Erie Foundation supports clean and renewable energy, but it opposes the Icebreaker project because there needs to be more public awareness and understanding of the real impact. Lipaj adds, “We believe it would lead to a reduction of visitors and jobs.” WHAT YOU CAN DO: • Letters, emails and phone calls to legislators can make a difference. Ask for an Environmental Impact Study. Not sure who to contact? Email info@lakeeriefoundation.org or call 419-301-3743 and an associate will direct you to your legislator and offer guidance. • Do the math. Consider your electric bill and when it costs the most. How much would you pay if alternative power costs five to six times more? • Share the news. Talk about the proposed Icebreaker project with other property owners, boaters, anglers, friends and lake lovers. Awareness of the project is key. “The project was approved 10 years ago and people have forgotten about it and it’s not in the press,” Fisher points out. “When we bring it up at events like the boat show, 95% of people say, ‘I’m in favor of wind energy.’ But this particular project is not good for Lake Erie or Northeast Ohio.”
Sandusky, OH
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Cedar Fair Entertainment Company ® ©2021 Cedar Fair, L.P. CP22-074
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How You Can Help
algae blooms and invasive species.” The foundation’s key objective is to work with legislators, scientists and other organizations that are mission aligned.
“It is critical for so many of us to be sure the lake stays healthy now and for the future, so we engage businesses through sponsorships and
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With 31 parks and nearly 11,000 acres, the Lorain County Metro Parks has something for everyone! (440) 458-5121 | LorainCountyMetroParks.com INSIDE About the Foundation
Lake Erie Issues
Saving Lake Erie We can no longer take our greatest resource for granted.
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How You Can Help
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Sponsorships and memberships support Lake Erie Foundation’s causes. Every small action creates a noticeable ripple effect. Like many other nonprofit organizations, the foundation’s ability to impact lake health and sustainability depends on individual members, donors, businesses, grants and other nonprofit alliances. Currently, there are 500 members of Lake Erie Foundation. “Donations are our lifeblood and what makes us an active and effective organization,” says Kate Burke, the foundation’s development director. “It helps us with our operations, with education and promoting community awareness about issues that are impacting Lake Erie — everything from microplastics to wind turbines,
Discover ways you can support Lake Erie Foundation. By Kristen Hampshire
“Donations are our lifeblood and what makes us an active and effective organization.”
partnerships with us to match employees’ donations, along with employee giving programs,” Burke explains. “We encourage people to support our outreach and education efforts in any way they can.”
— Kate Burke,
Lake Erie Foundation Development Director
WANT TO GET INVOLVED? •B ecome a member. Join a group that is driven to save and celebrate the lake. •D onate. Every donation helps the foundation continue to educate, advocate and preserve Lake Erie.
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•B ecome a Lake Erie Defender. Donate monthly. •S ponsor LEF. Become a business sponsor and show a commitment to helping Lake Erie thrive.
Go Online Visit lakeeriefoundation.org to become a member or sponsor, make a donation and learn more about Lake Erie Foundation, as well as ways you can make a difference and support efforts to save our Great Lake!
WHERE OUR GREAT CITY, meets the Great Lake we love.
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