Ohio Lake Erie Buffer Initiative- Final Report
  Summary of Major Accomplishments

The Buffer Team members in a team meeting identified the following as the top 8 most important accomplishments:

1. Sedimentation was reduced and water quality improved in the watershed as a result of the 44,701 acres of new conservation buffers that have been installed on the land in the watershed to date since 1997.
2. The interest in planting riparian forests and restoring wetlands has increased beyond any expectations at the start of the project. These practices are being adopted in the CREP program at twice the rate projected (See graph 2). The team attributes this to the increased financial incentives applied to these programs within the Ohio Lake Erie Conservation Enhancement Program (CREP). The Buffer Team feels that the involvement and support of its members was instrumental in developing a successful Ohio Lake Erie CREP program. Especially important was the work of the non-governmental partners in encouraging legislative support for CREP funding.
   
   
   
   Graph 2- Tree and Permanent Wetland Practices are being enrolled in
   the CREP at twice the rate projected at the start of the project.
    
3. As a result of this project, technical support was increased to the county conservation field offices, and ultimately to the landowners, through the efforts of the summer interns. The program emphasis by the buffer team, the CREP funding, and buffer technical training all converged to elevate the awareness level of this new conservation concept and accelerate the efforts field office staff put forth to promote installation of this practice.
4. Landowner and general public awareness of the needs for and benefit of conservation buffers increased at all levels. Awareness of state legislators increased and correspondingly support for funding increased via the CREP program. In addition, the program efforts resulted in national awareness and admiration for Ohio.
5. Landowners attitudes about buffer practices have changed significantly. As a result of the publicity, education efforts and financial incentives, the attitude of farmers has changed from one of viewing these practices as a cost to viewing them as a benefit.
6. The marketing and support materials developed for field offices…...from publications, to photo CD’s to awards to the buffer program signs ……were invaluable tools. These items not only saved field offices time, but provided a coordinated and consistent message across the basin. They provided tools, which conservation field offices would not have had the time or resources to develop on their own.
7. The Buffer Team approach provided a coordinated effort across counties and across agencies. The Lake Erie Buffer logo and other items developed provided a consistent theme and message, which transected agency and political boundaries.
8. The Buffer Team members developed an enthusiasm for the project and a can do synergism, which resulted in cooperation and coordination amongst agencies. The team approach offered a vehicle to transcend the boundaries and limitations of any one of the agencies by themselves, so that the whole of the effort was much greater than the sum of its parts.

Ohio Lake Erie Buffer Initiative FINAL REPORT- March 2004

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