Lake Erie is arguably Ohio’s greatest natural resource and is vitally important to Ohio’s economy. Lake Erie provides water for drinking, commercial shipping, fishing, transportation and recreational activities. In addition, Lake Erie is the boundary line for more than 8,000 lakefront property owners in Ohio. Rights in and to the waters of Lake Erie and the underlying lake bed are restricted by the common law principle known as the “Public Trust Doctrine.” Essentially, the Public Trust Doctrine reserves rights in submerged lands for public use and enjoyment such as navigation, commerce, fishing and recreation, and use by littoral owners. To read the article, click here.