Ohio Lake Erie Commission Awards Watershed Protection Grants

March 20, 2026

CLEVELAND, OH – The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) is proud to announce a new round of investments in the protection and stewardship of Lake Erie through both the Lake Erie Protection Fund (LEPF) and the Lake Erie Community Grant (LECG) Program awards.

Through these grants, OLEC is supporting community-based initiatives that collectively strengthen the long-term health, sustainability, and economic vitality of communities in the Lake Erie watershed.

“Community-driven work is essential to protecting Lake Erie,” said Joy Mulinex, Executive Director of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. “These awards underscore the Commission’s commitment to fostering partnerships and investing in projects that deliver measurable benefits for Ohio’s Great Lake.”

2026 Lake Erie Protection Fund (LEPF) Grants Awarded
Funded in part through the Lake Erie license plate program, LEPF supports research and on-the-ground projects aimed at protecting, preserving, and restoring Lake Erie and its watershed. Projects must advance the goals of the 2025 Lake Erie Protection and Restoration Plan. OLEC is pleased to award the 2026 Lake Erie Protection Fund Grants to:

• West Creek Conservancy – awarded $50,000 for its project, Red Creek – Grant River Confluence Restoration, supporting a Phase II study on 103 acres to prepare for remediation and restoration.
• Wood Soil & Water Conservation District – awarded $20,460 for its project, Watershed Planning in Western Lake Erie, supporting development of three Non-Point Source Watershed Implementation Strategies to identify future projects in the Maumee River and/or Portage River watersheds.

• Holden Forests and Gardens – awarded $44,580 for its project, Chagrin River Riparian Habitat Enhancement, supporting invasive species treatment along two miles of the Chagrin River and in the Brainard Fen to protect high-quality habitat.
  2026 Lake Erie Community Grant (LECG) Recipient Announced
  OLEC has also awarded the first large grant for the LECG, empowering local organizations, municipalities, and community groups to lead education, stewardship, and on-the-ground restoration activities throughout the watershed. The $750,000 funding award went to:

• Cleveland Museum of Natural History for its Mentor Marsh Restoration project, which will help restore the hydrology and native plant community within this coastal marsh ecosystem and help address non-point source runoff to 801 acres of critical coastal resources.
  The application process for the next round of Lake Erie Community Grant funding is now open for the 2026 grant cycle, with applications due by April 30, 2026. Eligible applicants can apply for funding to support community-driven projects that protect and improve Lake Erie, promote education, and build community engagement in the Lake Erie watershed. Funding is available for approximately 12 small grants of up to $75,000 and two large grants of up to $750,000. Interested applicants can access the grant guidelines, application materials, and guidance on the Ohio Lake Erie Commission website.

About Ohio Lake Erie Commission
Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established to preserve Lake Erie's natural resources, protect the quality of its waters and ecosystem and promote economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency serves as the commission's chairman. Additional members include the directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development , Agriculture, Natural Resources and five private citizen members appointed by the Governor. For more information about OLEC, the Lake Erie Protection Fund, or to read about past grant projects, visit: http://lakeerie.ohio.gov/.

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Sandra Kosek-Sills, Ohio Lake Erie Commission
(419) 357-2775