Local OH Conservationist Honored

Washington, D.C. – Local Ohio conservationist Edith Chase is honored today by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at an award ceremony in Washington D.C. Ms. Chase was named Coastal Steward of the Year from NOAA for her tireless commitment to conserving Lake Erie coastal resources for four decades as a volunteer, citizen and President and Founder of the Ohio Coastal Resource Management Project, established in 1982.

Conservation leader Thomas W. Offutt, III remarks, “Edith’s energy, consistency, and knowledge have gained her tremendous respect in the environmental community, and among local and federal officials. The NOAA award is a well-deserved testament to her accomplishments, advocacy, and leadership in coastal stewardship.”

Ms. Chase has worked with government leaders to identify coastal resource issues and played a critical role in mobilizing proponents for comprehensive coastal management legislation. Her dedicated efforts have resulted in policy changes at the federal level, public awareness, and improved stewardship of coastal resources and watersheds of Lake Erie and the Great Lakes. She joined in the effort to pass important environmental legislation in the early 1970’s, worked for the passage of The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and was an early proponent for Ohio’s participation in the national coastal management program. Ms. Chase founded the Ohio Coastal Resource Management Project in 1982. The Ohio Coastal Resource Management Project drafted a report, “Who’s Minding the Shore?” that provided substantial input to Ohio’s Coastal Management Plan.

Ms. Chase was nominated for the award by the Trust for Public Land, one of the many organizations that she has supported and worked with over the years. The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. Critical past accomplishments in Ohio include reclaiming the former Richfield Coliseum site as an addition to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and protecting Edison Woods and the East Sandusky Bay Preserve in Erie County. For more information, visit the Trust for Public Land on the web at www.tpl.org/ohio