Lake Erie - Ottawa County

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Lake Erie - Ottawa County

Town(s): Port Clinton OH, Oak Harbor OH
County:
Local Name: Lake Erie

Size: acres
Average Depth: 60 feet
Maximum Depth: 210 feet

Boating Allowed: Kayaks, Canoes, Sail Boats, Electric Motor Boats, Power Boats, Jet-skis
Swimming: Swimming Allowed, Some Restrictions



Lake Erie – is one of the 5 Great Lakes and borders four states: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York as well as the Canadian Province of Ontario. The water at Lake Erie provides waterborne commerce, navigation, manufacturing and power production that has led to extensive industrial development along the 812 miles of shoreline (312 is in Ohio) however, the moderate temperatures of the lake has encouraged a great deal of agriculture and recreation. Lake Erie is the warmest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes and being the shallowest of the 5 has led it to have more consumable fish than the other Great Lakes combined. The lake’s fishery supports over 10,000 jobs per year and the lake has become the Walleye capital of the world. The lakefront living lifestyle is embodied at Lake Erie as it has everything residents could ask for. With its immense size, Lake Erie is unrivaled by any other lake in the state when it comes to breath-taking and awe inspiring panoramic lake views!

Lake / Beaches / Marinas – Lake Erie is an amazing lake with 9,910 square miles of surface area, an average depth of 60 ft., a maximum depth of 210 ft., and 871 miles of shoreline. Lake Erie is the 4th largest of the Great Lakes in surface volume and the smallest by water volume but it is the 12th largest lake in the world by surface area. Most of the lake’s inflow comes from the Detroit River water from the upper Great Lakes; the rest of the water comes from smaller tributaries including the St. Clair River and precipitation. Boaters, anglers and every other lakefront residents can experience lakefront living at its finest as the lake has no regulations on boat size, horsepower or speed limit, except in specified areas. For anglers, the lake is abundant with walleye but is abundant with other ‘superstar’ fish including steelhead and pickerel. The lake also holds smallmouth bass, rainbow and brown trout, salmon, whitefish, smelt, alewife, white perch, yellow perch and white bass. Reportedly the longest fish in the lake is the sturgeon, which can grow up to 10 ft. and 300 lbs., although they are endangered and live on the bottom of the lake. There is also a mythological creature sometimes known as the Lake Erie Monster that some fisherman will occasionally swear to see! The Lake is also popular for shipwreck diving, biking and hiking trails, and lighthouses. The lake offers 191 places to access the water in Ohio as well as 37 public beaches which offer swimming, volleyball, picnic areas and all other activities you could think of. The lake is also the host of dozens of marinas that offer boat and wave-runner rentals, supplies, boat repair services and fuel.     

 

Ottawa County – is a county located along the shores of Lake Erie that was for the Ottawa Indians who resided there and the native American word meaning “trader”. The county features areas such as Marblehead, Lakeside Chautauqua and Catawba Island. Residents will find shopping, lakefront dining and awe inspiring views of the lake. Residents will enjoy the Catawba Island State Park and the East Harbor State Park. Residents will enjoy watersports, quality sport fishing and lakefront living at its finest!

Water Quality: Town/State Monitoring
Vegetation Growth: Invasive
Non-native Species: Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum Spicatum), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria)

Fish Species: White Bass, Steelhead Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Salmon, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Walleye

Boat Access: Access for Power and Non-power Boats
Parking Spaces: More than 40

Shoreline Development: 75-100%