On July 1, Kent State University’s Center for Public Administration and Public Policy, in cooperation with the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at Youngstown State University, released a study detailing water resource management needs and opportunities in northeast Ohio.

The Northeast Ohio Research Consortium (NEORC), a research arm of the Ohio Urban University Program (UUP) supported by the Ohio Board of Regents, provided a planning grant for the study to Kent State University’s Center for Public Administration and Public Policy.

Entitled “Water Resource Management in Northeast Ohio: Opportunities for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Economic Growth,” the study suggests that fresh water is one of northeast Ohio’s greatest assets. The study also provides information to enable a regional dialogue about ways to improve water resource management in northeast Ohio and to create a more prosperous future for the region.  

The study identifies six areas of need and opportunity for improved water resource management in northeast Ohio: (1) improving protection and restoration of area waterways; (2) increasing access to water resources; (3) expanding water education; (4) investing in water resource management; (5) enabling more effective regional decision making, and; (6) strengthening planning and coordination processes across the region. Specific ideas for research, technical assistance, and education projects that can help address these needs are also offered in the study.

Working in cooperation with the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at Youngstown State University, the Center at Kent State University conducted 32 interviews with water resource experts and stakeholders in northeast Ohio. The staff also conducted an extensive literature review and participated in meetings and conferences to collect information about water resource management in northeast Ohio.

The study can be accessed through the Kent State Web site at http://www.kent.edu/cpapp or the Ohio Urban University Program Web site at Cleveland State University, http://uup.csuohio.edu.

To learn more about the study and water resource management in northeast Ohio, contact Dr. John Hoornbeek at Kent State’s Center for Public Administration and Public Policy at 330-672-7148.

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Media contact:

Kent State University

Rachel Wenger-Pelosi, 330-672-8046 or rwenger@kent.edu