Ohio Mixed Bag: DNR invests in Ohio boating – Outdoor News
Columbus — The Ohio DNR (ODNR) is once again reinforcing its commitment to safe and enjoyable experiences on the water by awarding $580,000 in Marine Patrol Assistance Grants to 25 agencies across 21 counties.
These grants, distributed through the ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft, are intended to enhance on-the-water safety efforts and help local partners better serve Ohio’s growing boating community.
“Ensuring the safety of Ohio’s boaters takes strong partnerships,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “These grants support the dedicated local agencies who help keep our waterways safe, welcoming, and well-patrolled for everyone who enjoys time on the water.”
The 2025 grants support local law enforcement in conducting routine waterway patrols, responding to emergencies, and outfitting their marine patrols with essential safety gear.
Grant recipients include agencies along Lake Erie and the Ohio River, as well as counties with popular inland lakes and rivers.
Boating remains one of Ohio’s favorite outdoor activities with 630,628 boats registered in 2024. Paddle sports continue to see strong interest, with 306,769 paddlecraft registered last year alone.
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CMP Matches Open for Registration
Camp Perry, Ohio — The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites the public to join on the firing line for the 2025 National Smallbore and Air Gun events during the annual National Matches in Port Clinton, Ohio.
The National Matches, held at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Base since 1907, is conducted through a partnership between the CMP and the Ohio National Guard – showcasing a variety of indoor and outdoor events for adults and juniors.
The National Smallbore lineup will fire July 9-19 and includes iron sights and any sights prone events as well as 3×20 (three-position) individual and team matches. All smallbore events are held on Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range, featuring a covered firing line and CMP’s own outdoor electronic targets.
For air rifle or air pistol competitors – check out the National Air Gun Championships, held on the electronic target range within the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. The series is comprised of training, followed by two days of 60-shot competitions. Air Rifle will kick off July 10-13, while Air Pistol will follow July 14-17.
The National Smallbore and National Air Gun phases have been arranged in tandem, along with the National Pistol series, to allow athletes the option of competing in a variety of disciplines during their Camp Perry visit. Additional aggregate events have been included for those firing in air rifle and three-position smallbore competitions, with challenging elimination team matches also part of the Air Gun and Smallbore schedules.
Learn more about the National 3P Smallbore Matches and Air Rifle Championship at https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/national-smallbore-matches/.
See the Smallbore Prone Nationals here. Register and find more on the National Air Pistol Championship at https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/air-pistol-nationals/.
Reopening of Muskingum Lock Celebrated
Columbus — The Ohio DNR (ODNR) hosted a special celebration on May 31 to mark the reopening of Rokeby Lock No. 8 on the Muskingum River Parkway, restoring full navigational access from Marietta to Zanesville for the first time since 2020.
Where riverboats once drifted under the call of steam whistles, families can now once again cruise through Ohio’s only operational hand-operated lock system—an unforgettable experience that blends history with natural beauty.
“Restoring navigation to the entire length of the Muskingum is about more than boats on the water,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “It’s about preserving a remarkable piece of our heritage and celebrating the communities and families who’ve cherished this river for generations.”
The event celebrated not only a restored passageway but the enduring legacy of Muskingum River State Park, a place where history flows with the current. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Muskingum River Navigation Historic District, the park is home to one of the nation’s last remaining systems of hand-operated locks – a marvel of 19th-century engineering that helped open Ohio and the Midwest to trade and development. Ten of the 11 original locks remain in operation, allowing recreational boaters to once again travel from Marietta to Zanesville.
Constructed in the 1800s under the direction of West Point graduate Major Samuel Curtis, the locks and dams turned the Muskingum into a vital shipping artery. By 1841, the system connected to the Ohio and Erie Canal, ushering in an era of prosperity for towns along the waterway.
WTU Donates Nearly $500,000 in Ohio
Columbus — Whitetails Unlimited (WTU) has granted $427,775 to various mission-related projects in the state of Ohio over the past fiscal year. More than 150 different organizations received grants pertaining to outdoor education, habitat enhancement, and hunting and shooting sports preservation. This was done in large part with the help of Whitetails Unlimited’s 40 Ohio chapters.
Wildlife habitat, hunter access, and reducing poaching are priorities of Whitetails Unlimited, according to a press statement. WTU initiatives help build relationships with private landowners, who play a vital role in wildlife conservation, as well as creating partnerships with state and federal agencies to acquire land and increase public hunting opportunities. Funds were granted to Ohio law enforcement to purchase thermal optics and a robotic drone.
Source: https://www.outdoornews.com/2025/06/02/ohio-mixed-bag-dnr-invests-in-ohio-boating/
