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How are water access sites in Lake Erie connected to ecological and social values?
Access to water is an important recreational value to many people in the region. Water access sites provide individuals a variety of opportunities to recreate on the water, from boating and fishing to canoeing and kayaking. Recreational boating attracts visitors and other sportsmen from across the country to the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). Recreational boating comprises a significant segment of the recreational use of the WLEB, with the Great Lakes Commission estimating that 2.56 million boats were registered in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario alone. In total, over one-third of all boats registered in the U.S. call a Great Lakes state home. Pleasure-craft users average $15,626 in annual spending related to boating, directly supporting over 107,000 jobs throughout the Great Lakes. The success of the boating industry in western Lake Erie is highly-dependent on lake levels, as its average depth is only 25 feet. Since the early 2000’s, Lake Erie has experienced near-record low lake levels, straining already depleted funds for dredging, closing boat slips in marinas and grounding vessels. The following year, lake levels have rebounded to more typical levels, however further stress on the ecosystem through water withdrawals and climate change could impact lake levels and recreational boaters in the long-term. The economic value of public access ramps can be very high. The recreational boating data layer was included in the Marxan analysis to highlight areas within the WLEB that are considered valuable by boaters, canoeists, and kayakers who do not typically utilize marinas.
Water access sites data layer
The WLECCV team compiled this data layer from a number of state and provincial sources. Marinas and private facilities were generally excluded. In total, 100 public water access sites were identified and included in the Marxan analysis.