Lake Erie Bluffs: A successful modern conservation project

 

Many Northeast Ohioans recognize the value of Lake Erie.
Now they have a park that features this natural wonder
in Lake County’s front yard.

Lake Erie Bluffs is nationally significant: The 600-acre Lake Erie Bluffs property will permanently protect a significant amount of wetland, meadow and mostly undeveloped lakefront habitat used by rare and common plant and animal species.
 
Amazingly, the property remains largely unspoiled by previous development. The mix of 40-foot high beach bluffs and open sandy and cobble beach across 9,000 feet of shoreline are the site’s dominant features. The beach area hosts trees, shrubs and small plants including the majority of the park’s rare plants.



The development of Lake Erie Bluffs was made possible with help from a wide range of committed partners. Working together, this collaborative effort secured more than $10 million in local, state and federal competitive grants and donations to purchase the $11 million property. More than 1.6 miles of undeveloped shoreline and nearly 600 acres of diverse and important natural habitat are now protected by Lake Metroparks thanks to the help of many valuable partners.

 

Over the past several years, Lake Metroparks worked with various local conservation partners to complete a detailed study of the Lake Erie Bluffs site and together they produced a conceptual master plan that illustrated how conservation, recreation and economic development can all be sustained within and around the project area. The shared vision and commitment to promote and integrate the value of conservation efforts within existing local and regional planning groups and agencies was a result of funding from the Cleveland Foundation’s Lake-Geauga Fund.

Visitors will now enjoy low-impact recreational activities such as hiking and fishing at both locations accessible to the public. Improvements made to enhance public use include parking lots, restrooms and installation of gravel trails with a scenic overlooks and a grand access point to a natural beach along Lake Erie at each location.



Lake Erie Bluffs provides public access to Lake Erie and protects habitat used by rare species including:

• Bald eagle • Merlin • White-eyed vireo • Least flycatcher
• Willow flycatcher • Yellow-breasted chat
• Purple sand grass • Fringed gentian • Seaside spurge
• Smallmouth salamander • Hairy-necked tiger beetle
• Various other rare plants

Lake Erie Bluffs - Breathtaking scenery with beach access

Lake Erie Bluffs opens to the public June 30, 2012

Overlook at Lake Erie Bluffs

This 139-acre wooded parcel along the shore of Lake Erie in Perry Township provides public access to a beautiful stretch of natural beach. Lake Erie Bluffs hugs the lakeshore offering visitors a bird’s-eye view from the scenic overlook of the beauty and drama of the ever-changing Lake Erie. Throughout all seasons, the lives of resident and migrant birds are greatly influenced by this amazing natural resource. Park hours: Sunrise to sunset.

Click here for a list of park amenities and directions to Lake Erie Bluffs.

Visitors can enjoy low-impact recreational activities such as hiking and fishing at this new park. Improvements made to enhance public use include a parking lot, picnic areas, restrooms, and installation of a half mile-long loop gravel trail with a scenic overlook and a grand access point to a natural beach along Lake Erie. 

When you visit Lake Erie Bluffs, let us know your thoughts about this new treasure. 
Tweet @Lake_Metroparks and include #LakeErieBluffs in your message.

A Local Natural Area with National Significance

In 2004, a Presidential Task Force developed solutions to restore the Great Lakes. The resulting Great Lakes Regional Collaborative Strategy (GLRCS) generated nine priorities to restore the Great Lakes including “a need for significantly more habitat conservation and species management.” Preservation of prime natural coastline, such as Lake Erie Bluffs, contributes to the overall health of the Great Lakes region.

Natural Beach at Lake Erie Bluffs

Lake Erie Bluffs is easily accessible and is located within a half-mile of the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail—Ohio’s 293-mile National Scenic Byway that passes through quaint communities and historical sites, and connects a myriad of natural and cultural features including coastal marshes, prairies, rivers, waterfalls, museums and lighthouses.

This project was funded in part by NOAA, Ohio Costal Management Program, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District, The Trust for Public Land, and the Clean Ohio Fund.

Rare Species

Lake Erie Bluffs permanently protects a significant amount of wetland, meadow and lakefront habitat used by rare and common plant and animal species.  Beaches are very dynamic. Annual fluctuations in Great Lakes water levels and even one severe storm can wipe out a population of plants or bring in new seeds or roots to establish new plant communities.

Click here to see what some of the nearly 20 rare species that have been found and documented at Lake Erie Bluffs. 

Young Bald Eagle being rehabilitated at Lake Metroparks Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center

Photo by MaryBeth Joeright - Read story in The News-Herald

A young Bald Eagle from this year's hatch was found injured along the Lake Erie shoreline in eastern Lake County late June 2011.  The Lake Metroparks ranger department was contacted and they successfully rescued the eagle, bringing it to the wildlife Center.

The injury was a broken humorous in the right wing.  Surgery was performed by a veterinarian who inserted a pin and two wires to help stabilize the bone in the wing.  Prognosis is good following another trip to the vet last week where an x-ray showed the bone was healing well.  The vet is very hopeful the eagle will fully recover and be able to fly again.

The eagle will undergo a couple months of rehabilitation to strengthen the wing before it is released back into its natural habitat.  The eagle will join the more than 54% of successful releases the center has had in the past year.

Video of the Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle vitals:
9 lbs
4 ft tall w/tail
7 ft wingspan

Diet: Loves fish and mice

Young Bald Eagle being rehabilitated at Lake Metroparks Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center

 

For more information about the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center, click here.