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The Ohio House of Representatives is considering legislation, House Bill 218, that would transfer thousands of acres along our coast to private landowners.
For those of us who enjoy Ohio's outdoors, this could severely restrict our right to fish, swim, wade and walk near the shore.
Lake Erie, its shoreline and coastal waters belong to the people of Ohio. Please take a moment to ask your state representative to keep it that way and reject House Bill 218. Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=426&id4=OHFreep
Background
Some property owners along the Lake Erie shore want to gain a legal foothold to fence off vast stretches of now-public beach for themselves. If they get their way, the public can look forward to a shoreline cluttered with sprawling million-dollar estates, private clubs and even oil drilling derricks - and fences and "keep out" signs to restrict public access to the Lake Erie shore.
By lowering the "watermark" set for the protection and regulation of Lake Erie as proposed in House Bill 218, the State of Ohio will transfer thousands of acres along our coast to private landowners. This is an outrageous giveaway of public resources.
For those of us who enjoy Ohio's outdoors, this could severely restrict our right to fish, swim, wade, and walk near the shore.
The public has a right to continue to enjoy the Lake Erie and its coastal waters. The state legislature shouldn't give away the public shoreline and its waters - resources that were given to Ohio at statehood in 1803.
According to federal law and Ohio's grant of statehood, any land lakeward of the high water mark is titled to the state and held in trust for the public. Further, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that the General Assembly cannot abandon its responsibility to hold these lands in trust for the people of Ohio.
The Lake Erie shore and its coastal waters belongs to all 11 million citizens of Ohio. Ask your state representative to keep it that way and reject House Bill 218. Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=426&id4=OHFreep
Sincerely,
Erin Bowser
Ohio PIRG State Director
For those of us who enjoy Ohio's outdoors, this could severely restrict our right to fish, swim, wade and walk near the shore.
Lake Erie, its shoreline and coastal waters belong to the people of Ohio. Please take a moment to ask your state representative to keep it that way and reject House Bill 218. Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=426&id4=OHFreep
Background
Some property owners along the Lake Erie shore want to gain a legal foothold to fence off vast stretches of now-public beach for themselves. If they get their way, the public can look forward to a shoreline cluttered with sprawling million-dollar estates, private clubs and even oil drilling derricks - and fences and "keep out" signs to restrict public access to the Lake Erie shore.
By lowering the "watermark" set for the protection and regulation of Lake Erie as proposed in House Bill 218, the State of Ohio will transfer thousands of acres along our coast to private landowners. This is an outrageous giveaway of public resources.
For those of us who enjoy Ohio's outdoors, this could severely restrict our right to fish, swim, wade, and walk near the shore.
The public has a right to continue to enjoy the Lake Erie and its coastal waters. The state legislature shouldn't give away the public shoreline and its waters - resources that were given to Ohio at statehood in 1803.
According to federal law and Ohio's grant of statehood, any land lakeward of the high water mark is titled to the state and held in trust for the public. Further, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that the General Assembly cannot abandon its responsibility to hold these lands in trust for the people of Ohio.
The Lake Erie shore and its coastal waters belongs to all 11 million citizens of Ohio. Ask your state representative to keep it that way and reject House Bill 218. Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=426&id4=OHFreep
Sincerely,
Erin Bowser
Ohio PIRG State Director