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City officials say Miami and Erie Canal dredging stalled as ODNR lacks maintenance budget
Summary
City staff and councilors described repeated efforts to secure Ohio Department of Natural Resources support to dredge the Miami and Erie Canal, but said ODNR does not budget maintenance funds for the canal and progress has been slow.
City officials told St. Marys City Council that efforts to restore and maintain the Miami and Erie Canal for recreational use have stalled because the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) does not budget maintenance funds for the canal.
During the city report, staff described multiple meetings with ODNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and said the process has been "like a salmon swimming upstream." The city has requested dredging to remove silt that has filled much of the canal and limits recreational use. Officials said the city is continuing discussions but that ODNR has not allocated funds for canal maintenance; the canal’s condition has been an ongoing issue since at least 2012, when Mayor McGowan first began efforts to move the project forward.
Councilmembers and staff said they will continue to press state and federal partners for action but acknowledged the effort is resource‑intensive and dependent on ODNR priorities and budgets.
Ending: City staff said they will continue outreach to ODNR and federal partners and keep the council updated on any changes to the agency’s maintenance or funding commitments.
