Ohio's wildlife officers pulled back on duties while metroparks rangers stay the course

During the on-going coronavirus crisis, officers with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife will not be performing “routine” fishing and hunting license checks.

Nor, it would appear, conduct clandestine law enforcement operations to check for suspicious and illegal activity. That would seemingly include undercover work along such places as the Maumee River, long a hot-spot for early spring walleye fishing.

This, from an inquiry made to the agency by “Ohio Outdoor News.”

Instead, the Natural Resources Department says, officers will only approach the public “...in non-emergency situation(s).”

But the agency did not elaborate as to what constitutes either an emergency or non-emergency situation, though clarification was sought but was not forthcoming.

The Natural Resources Department did say its staff will be “...monitoring our anglers from the shore, checking bald eagle nest reports, and monitoring our wildlife properties.”

However, sources within the Natural Resources Department’s law enforcement apparatus as well as agency retirees paint an entirely different picture.

Likewise, several county park districts say their respective ranger staffs continue to interact with the public they serve, including the Metroparks Toledo.

This metro parks operates the famous Side Cut Park, which is a preeminent Maumee River early spring walleye-run fishing hole.

Asked about ranger staffing and activity level of its 25-member ranger staff, Metroparks Toledo director of communications Scott Carpenter said the agency is encouraging its officers to continue interacting with the public, but exercise caution at the same time.

“Some of them may be staying in their patrol cars more and not out on foot patrols or on bikes as much, but, no, we want to see people out as much as possible,” Carpenter said.

As for any closure of Side Cut Park, that is not an option the parks system is considering at the moment, Carpenter says as well.

“Is there a safer place for people to be than standing in a river, fishing for walleye?” Carpenter said.

Lake Metroparks in Lake County also has a fully engaged ranger staff. Its officers continue to actively patrol and engage the public, including at that agency’s several popular steelhead fishing units along both the Grand and Chagrin rivers and several of the former’s tributaries, a parks official said.

Similarly, the Geauga Parks District’s seven-ranger staff continues to operate as close to normal as possible. This interaction is being done via patrol car and on foot, said agency spokeswoman, Sandy Ward.

“(Our) ranger operations are still ‘business as usual’ currently; no changes in protocol, beyond perhaps the six-foot social distancing guidelines staff will be inclined to follow,” Ward says.

All of which is in sharp contrast to how the Natural Resources Department is addressing as to how its law enforcement staff operates.

“Our priority right now is the health of the public and our officers, so they are practicing responsible interactions whenever possible which means things might look different than people are accustomed to,” said Sarah Wickham, the Natural Resources Department’s chief of communications.

“Our wildlife officers are a vital part of our operation. We are working to protect our officers and the public while they do their very important work in this unique time.”

Yet not every Wildlife officer agrees, with some of them saying the Natural Resources Department is requiring its commissioned staff to work at home, not from home.

“They have all of us staying home. Not allowed to go out and patrol,” said one commissioned officer who requested anonymity.

“(They are) dissolving the covert operations unit, as well. We need more boots in the field not more supervisors. They want to save money but they are creating more top heavy positions,” the source said.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmail.com

COVID-19 forces Ohio to close park lodges/ County sherriffs suspend CCL processing

With the continued ratcheting of daily life in Ohio – barbershops and hair salon were ordered closed – the state’s nine state park lodges also were shuttered on Wednesday, March 18^th.

Interestingly, the ability of a guy to to get a haircut or for a woman to have a permanent was lost several hours before the lodges’ doors were locked. But I digress.

Anyway, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday evening that the lodges were to close today, Thursday, March 19 after normal check-out.

This, says the Natural Resources Department in a press release issued Wednesday evening, “...to the developing public health situation with COVID-19 and the Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) guidance...”

Ohio State Park Lodges closing include Burr Oak, Deer Creek, Hueston Woods, Maumee Bay, Mohican, Punderson, Salt Fork and Shawnee.

“U.S. Hotels, the lodge operator, is working to cancel or reschedule current reservations. Closure is expected to be temporary until COVID-19 guidelines change or are lifted. U.S. Hotel staff will minimally staff the facilities for security and safety,” the Natural Resources Departent’s release states.

“For state park lodge or lodge cabin customers who wish to modify or cancel current reservations, please visit www.greatohiolodges.com or call 866-806-8066. The lodge operator, U.S. Hotels, is offering refunds for reservations made prior to closure,” the release states.

Operated locally by Delaware North, and owned by the Ashtabula County Commissioners, the Lodge at Geneva State Park and its cottages also will close by noon on March 19, the release further says.

The Lodge at Geneva guests may visit www.thelodgeatgeneva.com  or call 866-806-8066 to inquire about current reservations and/or transfers and refunds, the Natural Resources Department’s release states.

At the moment – since this unprecedented event is still evolving – Ohio State Park sites and lodge cabins, campgrounds and day-use areas as well as the agency’s golf courses are still open.

In other COVID-19-related matters, on Wednesday also the Buckeye Firearms Association announced that some Ohio Sheriff offices are canceling appointments for concealed handgun licenses (CCLs), temporarily suspending applications and renewals, or limiting hours for license processing.

“The situation varies from county to county,” the Association said in its release.

In Ohio, county sheriff departments are assigned the task of performing background checks on prospective concealed carry license holders and issuing the required permits as well as documenting and processing renewals.

“(The) BFA has contacted Attorney General Dave Yost and is discussing the matter with the Governor and leadership in the House and Senate to assess the situation and explore options to address the problem,” the Association said in its release.

Ohio law currently specifies that a current concealed carry permit holder has a 30-day grace period after its expiration date during which time the license remains valid.

“One option we will propose is to have the legislature extend the grace period on (concealed carry licenses) so that Ohioans can continue to carry a firearm legally even after the normal grace period ends,” the Association’s release states.

The Association strongly urges that if a person’s license is coming due for renewal, or if a prospective license applicant is planning to apply for a license, to check with the individual county sheriff department for further information and instructions.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmail.com

UPDATED Ohio's shooters facing virus-led ammo runs and shooting range closures

Ohio shooters are not only finding ammunition being in short supply during the on-going cronoavirus crisis, they’re also are having difficulty in locating a place to use the rounds.

The crisis has led to a serious supply-and-demand issue; the latter exceeding the former. As shooters scarf up high-demand ammunition, leading to some firearms-ammunition dealers being out of the most popular calibers.

Or else these sellers have taken to restricting the amount of ammunition in certain calibers that a person can buy at any one time.

Going to a gun show won’t work, either. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s decree to limit the number of people who can gather at any one time has shut down for the moment all gun-knife shows in the state.

If this double whammy were not enough, the Ohio Division of Wildlife has closed down its so-called Class A supervised shooting ranges during the crisis period.

Also, the agency’s other shooting ranges will be open, but are limited to no more than 10 participants at a time, the Wildlife Division says.

The Wildlife Division has five designated Class A shooting ranges, though in practicality only two are currently operational: the one at the Deer Creek Wildlife Area in Fayette County and the one at the Grand River Wildlife Area in Trumbull County.

While the shooting range at the Delaware Wildlife Area in Delaware County is currently undergoing renovations, the nearby Cardinal Shooting Center will honor agency-issued shooting range permits for one hour from Thursday through Sunday, the Wildlife Division says.

Similarly, access to the Tranquility Wildlife Area rifle-pistol range remains closed until further notice, the Wildlife Division says.

Ohio Division of Wildlife-issued shooting range permits cost $5 daily or $24 annually.

As of right now, says the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Chief of Communications, Sarah Wickman, the agency’s “outdoor spaces are open to the public and we hope to keep them that way.”


“We know how important it is for people to be able to enjoy the outdoors,” Wickman said.

Wickman said as well the agency is closely monitoring the situation “and will make any changes that the conditions warrant for the health and safety of our staff the public.”

For the latest information on the Department operations during the coronavirus outbreak visit the agency’s web site at www.ohiodnr.gov.
Shooters are also finding that because of DeWine’s order shuttering establishments that cater to the public, private shooting ranges have curtail use of their indoor shooting ranges.

Among those operations is Shoot Point Blank, which operates indoor ranges in seven states including six such ranges in Ohio with another one planned.

Those indoor ranges in Ohio remain darkened though firearms and ammunition sales continue.

- BY Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
JFrischk4@Gmail.com

NRA scrubs annual meeting in April due to cronoavirus threat

Certainly not without any surprise, the National Rifle Association announced March 13 that it is cancelling its annual meeting and firearms show.

The show was set for April 16th through 19th in Nashville.

Here is the complete, official, unabridged text from the Association on the matter:

Important Update:  NRA Annual Meeting Cancellation

With our 149^th Annual Meeting scheduled for next month in Nashville, we realize many NRA members and meeting guests have questions about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the potential impact on our convention.

We have been closely monitoring updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Tennessee Department of Health.  In fact, earlier today, a state of emergency was declared in Tennessee.  

Therefore, we have reluctantly decided to cancel this year’s NRA Annual Meeting, planned for April 16 – 19 in Nashville. This applies to all events and scheduled programs, including the NRA-ILA Forum. We sincerely regret the need for this action, particularly for our many loyal members who join us for this annual celebration of the NRA and our constitutional freedoms.  Details regarding a rescheduled NRA Members’ Meeting will be forthcoming. 

Under the direction of NRA President Carolyn Meadows, the NRA Board of Directors is working with the Office of the Secretary in relation to board elections, meetings, and the like.  

Please know that we did not reach this decision lightly. We were ultimately guided by our responsibility to help ensure the safety and well-being of our NRA members, guests, and surrounding community.   

Please coordinate directly with any hotels, airlines or others who have assisted with your travel arrangements. Most companies have announced plans to accommodate travelers dealing with event cancellations.   

Please visit www.nraam.org for additional news and information regarding NRA activities. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com

Detacted Harpersfield dam reconstruction material washing 17 miles down Grand River

The much-troubled $7 million Harpersfield dam reconstruction project on the Grand River in Ashtabula County is nearing completion but its problems continue.



Among the most serious issues has both steelhead anglers and paddle-sports enthusiasts outraged. Construction materials swept away by recent rain showers and natural stream flowage have found their way about 17 miles downstream from the dam. And possibly further downstream.



The Grand River is a state-designated wild and scenic river, and is a popular venue for anglers and other recreational enthusiasts.



However, the project is way behind schedule in a rebuilding that features an enhanced artificial sea lamprey barrier along with shoring up the roughly 120-year-old structure located in Ashtabula County’s Harpersfield Township. At least the in-water sea lamprey control portion of the project is completed, and that major construction  is expected  to be complete  by the early fall of 2020.



The dam has long served as an effective barrier against upstream intrusion by sea lampreys. If the original dam had failed, this action would have allowed the invasive species nearly 1,300 additional miles of main-stem and tributary spawning grounds.



Thus a joint, local, state and federal project began more than 15 months ago on work to prevent the-then aged structure from experiencing a catastrophic failure. Project partners include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio EPA, and the Ashtabula County Metro Parks.



A partial failure did occur in December 2018 when two $30,000-each coffer dam bladders were sent over the dam as a result of rain-induced high water.



However, the most recent issue has so alarmed some officials with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that one of them sent an email to various local and state government officials outlining the problem. Included in the electronic document were several attached photographs that highlight the plastic-like trash.



“Yesterday, March 12, I met with (Ohio Division of Wildlife officer assigned to Ashtabula County) Jason Warren..,” said Matthew Smith, Assistant Regional Scenic River Manager for the Natural Resources’ Division of Natural Areas & Preserves in his electronic memo.



Smith wrote that Warren had received reports/complaints from anglers that debris from the Harpersfield Dam project had washed downstream.



Warren went as far downstream as Lake Metroparks’ Indian Point Park along the Leroy Township-Perry Township line, “which is river mile 14.2 and identified white polybags along the river,” Smith says in his email.



With the Harpersfield dame sea lamprey barrier being located at river mile 30.8, the debris field is at least 16.6 miles in length, Smith said also in his email.



“I went with Officer Warren to County Line Road (river mile 26.1) and Hidden Valley Park (river mile 22.4) and was able to identify white poly bags along the stream. There is also black fabric that looks like the material that was placed on the fences to create a visual barrier,” Smith said.



“There is no mistaking that this is from the Harpersfield Project.”

Smith said also that while he and Warren were at Lake Metroparks’ Hidden Valley Park in Madison Township they encountered several kayakers who were taking out their vessels, and who had just paddled downstream from Harpersfield dam.



“They told me that the debris in question was heavily located for the first three- to four-miles downstream from Harpersfield, then sporadic the rest of the way. I would tend to believe that the debris down to at least Indian Point is spread out sporadically,” Smith said.



“It is imperative,” Smith likewise said in his email “that all of this material is removed from the river.”



Smith said too that while he did not travel any further than Indian Point Park, he believes “..it is fair to say that there is a possibility for the debris to be (further) downstream from there.”



Never-the-less, says Smith in his email, “We will need Army Corps of Engineers to identify a plan on how all of this debris will be removed. I can also foresee that as water levels drop that more debris may be identified because it may be under water.”



On that matter, a Corps official suggests this is something he wants to look into at some point, perhaps as early as the week of March 15^th.



In an electronic response to Smith, Gabriel Schmidbauer, Project Manager for the Corps’ Buffalo District office, said he is tentatively planning a site visit “for probably next week to address this and other issues.”



“Being good environmental stewards is a high priority for the Corps, so we're working diligently to remove any debris associated with the Harpersfield Dam project,” Schmidbauer said in an email.



One thing is certain, though, that while Smith believes it is the Corps and its contractor’s responsibility to handle this matter, local agencies are not prepared to perform the task.



And the reason for that is due to the temporary reduction of staff brought about by the health-associated state-of-emergency of the cronoavirus threat.



“We are down to only essential personnel right now due to the virus so we are not able to support any clean up efforts,” said Lake Metroparks’ executive director Paul Palagyi in an electronic message also obtained by “Ohio Outdoor News.”



“We would help if we could, it's just not possible right now.  That said, we echo (Smith’s) concern and would like to know how this is going to be addressed.”



Palagyi said that when the parks system’s resumes regular staffing, the agency will be cleaning up debris, “but I am also going to instruct our staff to track how much time it takes for them to do the clean up and what they find.”



“I'd like to know who to submit for compensation for this cleanup. If someone littered in our parks, we'd write them a ticket and charge them for the cleanup.  I don't see any difference here,” Palagyi said.



Yet for steelhead anglers such as Bob Ashley of Mentor, the entire Harpersfield dam project has proven a bone of contention. The wash of construction-associated silt, mud and all has traveled as far downstream as Fairport Harbor, spoiling what had proven a very good winter steelhead fishing season, Ashley says.



“I have not been able to fish the Grand River like I want to in a couple of weeks,” Ashley said.”I’ve had to spend all my time on the Chagrin River.”

By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@ameritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com

Coronavirus outbreak is impacting Ohio Natural Resources activities, meetings

The threat of an outbreak on the coronavirus is having consequences that are only now beginning to ripple through government matters.

In Ohio, postponed is Wednesday’s (March 11) Lake Erie Commission’s quarterly meeting. The was set for University of Toledo’s Lake Erie Center.

Also on the hit list is next Wednesday’s (March 18) Ohio Wildlife Council meeting. This meeting is one of several regularly schedule hearings performed by the eight-member council.

Unknown is a call for any delays regarding the by-statute requirements for game law hearings that include those for deer, waterfowl, and upland game.

“As we receive updated guidance from public health officials, we will be reviewing all meetings and events on a case-by-case basis. We will pass information along to the public as it is available,” said Sarah Wickman, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ communications chief.

Asked about whether any parks, cabins, state park lodges, campgrounds, nature centers, or the Magee Marsh Visitors Center are closed, Wickman said not at this time.

All ready canceled are maple syrup festival events for this weekend (March 15 and 16) at Malibar Farm, Hueston Woods, and Indian Lake state parks.

“This situation is evolving quickly, but as of right now all ODNR properties are open and operating as usual,” Wickman said.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and will make any changes that the conditions warrant. We will update the media and the public should any of our properties close unexpectedly.”

All of which is in keeping with Ohio governor Mike DeWine’s Governor Mike response to the on-going coronavirus – officially designated as “COVID-19” - situation, and who has imposed travel restrictions on state employees of state agencies, boards, and commissions.

- By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com