March 2008

Post Cards

FOWL post cards have always been included with our newsletter. As we move to electronic newsletters, the post card tradition will follow. There are many was to communicate with public decision makers. The post card is simple and effective but relies on many members' participation. Please the March 2008 newsletter current articles.

You may copy and paste the text we print on our post cards. Edit and personalize it for additional impact. Write a letter of your own or make a phone call. All of the contact information you need is provided below.

Find your Ohio state elected officials. Enter your zip code in the search field at the bottom of the page.

Ohio House of Representatives

Ohio Senate

State Senator

State House, Senate Annex

Columbus OH 43266-0604

see S.B. No. 240

Dear State Senator ____________:

I support the adoption of the Spotted Salamander as Ohio's State Amphibian. This beautiful and fascinating animal is found throughout the state and is important to our woodland ecologies. It is important in food webs (for instance, Spotted Salamander larvae are voracious feeders on mosquito larvae) and energy transport. Its image would wonderfully adorn appropriate state literature.

I also strongly support the adoption of Vernal Pools as Ohio's State Wetland. These temporary wetlands, also found everywhere in Ohio, are vital components of our forest mosaic of habitats. Conservation and protection of Vernal Pools is in the interest of all Ohio citizens. Their biodiversity and hydrologic functions are outstanding.

Please help further the adoption of the Spotted Salamander and Vernal Pools as our State Amphibian and State Wetland. Thank you.

Friends of Wetlands

P.O. Box 2016

Elyria, OH 44036

Dear Mr. Bournique:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule changes to EPA's 401 rules. I support the science-based mitigation performance standards in the original proposed rules and the more stringent monitoring requirements - but I still would like to see highter mitigation rations. There should be more opportunity for public participation in the rules, and more satisfactory solutions to local stormwater issues that result from local wetland loss.

How is it that developers are given credit for providing upland buffer areas around wetlands (I know they're vital) but not held accountable for the destruction of buffer around wetlands, e.g. during minimization? This is a huge hole in the permitting process.

But - far most importantly - whatever happened to avoidance? The Director must have authority to deny permits and reject any bogus "justification " applicants have for not finding alternative upland sites. The nearly total absence of permit denials by tyhe agency, coupled with fallow brownfields and the failure of permitted projects that were at most questionable to begin with do little to spupport the contention that the Ohio EPA is actually protecting wetlands. These proposed rules make some important strides in the right direction , but they are far from the robust portection for Ohio's few remaining wetlands that the great majority of Ohioans support.

State Representative

State House

Columbus, OH 43266-0603

see S.B. No. 240

Dear State Representative ______________________:

I support the adoption of the Spotted Salamander as Ohio's State Amphibian. This beautiful and fascinating animal is found throughout the state and is important to our woodland ecologies. It is important in food webs (for instance, Spotted Salamander larvae are voracious feeders on mosquito larvae) and energy transport. Its image would wonderfully adorn appropriate state literature.

I also strongly support the adoption of Vernal Pools as Ohio's State Wetland. These temporary wetlands, also found everywhere in Ohio, are vital components of our forest mosaic of habitats. Conservation and protection of Vernal Pools is in the interest of all Ohio citizens. Their biodiversity and hydrologic functions are outstanding.

Please help further the adoption of the Spotted Salamander and Vernal Pools as our State Amphibian and State Wetland. Thank you.

John Watkins

ODNR - Office of Coastal Management

105 West Shoreline Drive

Sandusky, Ohio 44870

Dear Mr. Watkins:

I would like to travel along near the shore of Lake Erie and at least be aware that it is there. Public access to 13% of the shoreline in Ohio is an insult and an injury. I support a Coastal Management Plan for Ohio's Lake Erie shores that will increase public access to the lake - both from a landward approach and a lakeward one. Lake Erie is Ohio's finest and most important public resource, and not the fiefdom of the few wealthy landowners that have been allowed to but up the shoreline. They have no right to interfere with the public benefits of Lake Erie. Any activity on the part of private interests in or along the waters of Lake Erie should be strictly regulated - if they are permitted at all.

I favor the support and restoration of natural properties such as littoral drift, so vital a component to the pyhsical and ecological structure of the Lake, without which its incredible biological potential cannot be maintained or restored. I support setback requirements along all high risk erosion areas, and the abondonment of structrues and activities that damage or degrade natural processes and littoral function.