The Lake Kleenerz is an environmentally focused group of high school students whose goal is to educate the public about two key issues that are detrimental to the aquatic life in Lake Erie: 1) non-point source (NPS) pollution and, 2) invasive species and it is also their goal to enlist the public's support to help to preserve Lake Erie's ecosystem. For over two years, they have pursued their education and preservation goals by doing volunteer work.

The students read stories about beach closings, dead birds, dead zones and invasive zebra mussels clogging up drainage pipes. They were concerned about why there were so many issues with the lake and why so little was being done to improve its condition. Lake Erie is the most diverse and productive ecosystem of the Great Lakes and it is important to preserve it and help it thrive. Its ecosystem was being disrupted and it was changing. The group determined that invasive species (non native species) and NPS pollution were two key problems that were degrading the quality of Lake Erie's water and aquatic life. They wanted to help improve this situation. They studied and performed experiments with Sea Grant resources and observed first hand: 1) the NPS pollution deposited in the lake and dispersed in the water and 2) several of the invasive species present in the lake. More importantly they learned about more devastating invasive species threatening to enter the Great Lakes and that have the potential to completely destroy some of our most precious native fish. They also spoke with experts in various community and governmental organizations to determine the best way to help with these problems. Educating the public is the best method. Consequently, they have been working with the Cleveland Lakefront State Parks District of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and with Lake County Soil & Water District to coordinate activities and to be most effective in their education and preservation efforts.

Educating people to incorporate the preventative practices will help slow down or prevent the spread of invasive species between the Great Lakes and into inland lakes. Utilizing "Stop Aquatic Hitchhiker" campaign materials from the US Fish & Wildlife Service and with $1,000 grant money (Lake Erie Protection Fund) the group developed and produced 2,700 educational brochures. They distributed these brochures to 42 local boating and yacht clubs and to boaters in northeast Ohio. The students have also participated at local fairs and festivals and have made presentations to local club groups to educate people. They have given presentations to students at summer workshops during these past two years. The students developed pamphlets for NPS pollution and have been distributing them while they place storm grate stickers on storm drains leading to the streams that empty into Lake Erie.

This past year, the Lake Kleenerz developed a plan to provide educational materials for a new educational center and successfully secured $4,980 of grant money from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) to implement the materials to educate the public on these issues. The students are developing the materials to be incorporated at the Cleveland Lakefront State Park Education Center, currently under development. The students are designing educational banners, presentations and CDs on these issues. These materials and two computers will be incorporated into the center. The CDs will also be distributed to the visiting public and to educators for additional outreach and awareness.

The group has been very effective with its education efforts to date. Feedback from the yacht club managers and the public has been extremely supportive. There is very little information in northern Ohio about these topics and the public is very eager to learn and help. Consequently all efforts and materials continue to be valuable and well received. The students have plans for more educational activities, programs and informational campaigns and are looking forward to making continued progress in these areas. Recently the issue of invasive species has been the focus for local politicians in Ohio and in Michigan. New legislation for regulating the ballast waters of ships entering the Great Lakes is being introduced to address future threats of invasive species. These are important issues and the more educated the public becomes, the better chance we have to prevent further damage and disruption to Lake Erie.

Partner Statement

The Izaak Walton League of America is proud to be affiliated with the Lake Kleenerz project. This student initiated education and outreach program clearly demonstrates the League's mission to conserve our natural resources by identifying an issue, investigating it, and developing and implementing an action plan to address it. The Lake Kleenerz' efforts to reduce non-point source pollution and stop the spread of aquatic invasive species in Lake Erie, directly correlates with those of the League's national Clean Water Program. We are proud to be affiliated with the project and look forward to providing support to these students and their community in their continued outreach efforts to reduce non-point source pollution and to stop the spread of invasive species for a cleaner Lake Erie.