The OEC is working in court and in the sand to protect public access to our beaches and favorite fishing spots, Lake Erie’s coast and to stop an attempt to privatize the Lake Erie Shoreline and open it up to uncontrolled commercial development. The OEC has teamed up with sportsmen and fellow environmental-conservation groups in this effort.

The battle for the lake front continues. According to the Sandusky Register (12/16/08) "A state appeals court is likely to rule soon on the extent of lakefront property owners’ rights, but advocates on both sides say there’s little chance the debate will be resolved in 2009.

The Ohio Court of Appeals for the 11th district heard oral arguments Nov. 18 in a class-action lawsuit filed by the Ohio Lakefront Group, an organization representing property owners along Lake Erie shores."

Watch video of Jack Shaner, Deputy Director of the Ohio Environmental Council, talk about private versus public land.

“We stand arm-in-arm with the Attorney General to uphold the right of all Ohio citizens—not just a privileged few—to enjoy access to Lake Erie,” said Larry Mitchell, president of the League of Ohio Sportsmen. “We will vigorously defend the public trust doctrine and we will prevail.”

The case, Merrill v. State of Ohio and NWF, et. al., is similar to a landmark Michigan lawsuit that resulted in a unanimous Michigan Supreme Court decision upholding the public trust up to the high water mark.

The National Wildlife Federation, Ohio Environmental Council and League of Ohio Sportsmen filed the notice of appeal with the Eleventh District Court of Appeals of Ohio.