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FitzGerald Announces New Metrics for LakeStat
Media contacts:
Jeane’ Holley: (216) 698-2544 or jholley@cuyahogacounty.us
Rich Luchette: (216) 698-5637, (216) 797-0931, or rluchette@cuyahogacounty.us
CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald today formally outlined the initial scope of the work the administration’s LakeStat program will undertake later this year to measure the health and vitality of Lake Erie.
“Lake Erie is not only Cuyahoga County’s most important natural resource, it’s also a critical tool for revitalizing our local economy and making sure we’re prepared to compete in a 21st century marketplace,” said FitzGerald. “Today, we’re taking another step forward in the effort to protect this vital resource by announcing the tools that LakeStat will use to monitor Lake Erie.”
LakeStat represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Cuyahoga County and local, state, regional and federal stakeholders to track measurable data in an effort to ensure the continued value and vitality of Lake Erie. Originally announced in August 2013, LakeStat is working to provide policymakers and local residents with tools to advance the Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River agenda. Metrics will assess and report on an ongoing basis the sustainability, weather conditions, economic development, and infrastructure related to Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River in particular. New features will be added over time.
“Our lake and river resources are central to our local economy, not just for shipping but for multiple uses. The Port applauds the LakeStat initiative that will broaden public understanding of the vitality our water resources and will help to shape public discussion regarding actions to improve them. We look forward to participating in and supporting these important efforts,” said Will Friedman, President and CEO of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority.
Specific metrics that will be measured include, but are not limited to: tons of debris collected annually; percentage of total land in acres covered by the tree canopy; fish scores, fish diversity, amount of aquatic invasive species to determine the Cuyahoga River water quality; number of water quality advisories at our beaches; types of trash collected at beaches; tonnage of goods shipped; total number of boating and water craft registrations; dock slips; fishing licenses sold by location of purchase; and miles of existing and planned trails that link water assets.
LakeStat metrics will be publicly tracked through an online dashboard. Found at http://executive.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/LakeStat.aspx, the dashboard will drive progress on a coordinated and integrated planning approach.
"Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga are the historic and economic heart of Cuyahoga County,” said Lou McMahon, LakeStat Loaned Executive and partner at McMahon DeGulis LLP. “LakeStat is an effort to provide the public and all stakeholders and those interested in these water resources with a source of relevant information and metrics. Integrating multiple planning efforts through common metrics brings coordination and efficiencies that can expedite improvements in water quality, access, use and economic development."
LakeStat’s key partners and stakeholders that have been working to identify the common metrics for the dashboard include: Alliance for the Great Lakes, Biohabitats, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Cleveland MetroParks, City of Cleveland, Cleveland Water Alliance, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Cuyahoga Planning Commission, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, the George Gund Foundation, McMahon DeGulis LLP, NASA Glenn Research Center, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management, Ohio State University Extension Sea Grant College Program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Jeane’ Holley: (216) 698-2544 or jholley@cuyahogacounty.us
Rich Luchette: (216) 698-5637, (216) 797-0931, or rluchette@cuyahogacounty.us
CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald today formally outlined the initial scope of the work the administration’s LakeStat program will undertake later this year to measure the health and vitality of Lake Erie.
“Lake Erie is not only Cuyahoga County’s most important natural resource, it’s also a critical tool for revitalizing our local economy and making sure we’re prepared to compete in a 21st century marketplace,” said FitzGerald. “Today, we’re taking another step forward in the effort to protect this vital resource by announcing the tools that LakeStat will use to monitor Lake Erie.”
LakeStat represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Cuyahoga County and local, state, regional and federal stakeholders to track measurable data in an effort to ensure the continued value and vitality of Lake Erie. Originally announced in August 2013, LakeStat is working to provide policymakers and local residents with tools to advance the Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River agenda. Metrics will assess and report on an ongoing basis the sustainability, weather conditions, economic development, and infrastructure related to Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River in particular. New features will be added over time.
“Our lake and river resources are central to our local economy, not just for shipping but for multiple uses. The Port applauds the LakeStat initiative that will broaden public understanding of the vitality our water resources and will help to shape public discussion regarding actions to improve them. We look forward to participating in and supporting these important efforts,” said Will Friedman, President and CEO of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority.
Specific metrics that will be measured include, but are not limited to: tons of debris collected annually; percentage of total land in acres covered by the tree canopy; fish scores, fish diversity, amount of aquatic invasive species to determine the Cuyahoga River water quality; number of water quality advisories at our beaches; types of trash collected at beaches; tonnage of goods shipped; total number of boating and water craft registrations; dock slips; fishing licenses sold by location of purchase; and miles of existing and planned trails that link water assets.
LakeStat metrics will be publicly tracked through an online dashboard. Found at http://executive.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/LakeStat.aspx, the dashboard will drive progress on a coordinated and integrated planning approach.
"Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga are the historic and economic heart of Cuyahoga County,” said Lou McMahon, LakeStat Loaned Executive and partner at McMahon DeGulis LLP. “LakeStat is an effort to provide the public and all stakeholders and those interested in these water resources with a source of relevant information and metrics. Integrating multiple planning efforts through common metrics brings coordination and efficiencies that can expedite improvements in water quality, access, use and economic development."
LakeStat’s key partners and stakeholders that have been working to identify the common metrics for the dashboard include: Alliance for the Great Lakes, Biohabitats, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Cleveland MetroParks, City of Cleveland, Cleveland Water Alliance, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Cuyahoga Planning Commission, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, the George Gund Foundation, McMahon DeGulis LLP, NASA Glenn Research Center, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management, Ohio State University Extension Sea Grant College Program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
