(A) There is hereby created in the department of natural resources the division of parks and watercraft. The division shall do all of the following:

Terms Used In Ohio Code 1546.02

  • Recreational river area: means an area declared a recreational river area by the director under this chapter and includes those rivers or sections of rivers that are readily accessible by road or railroad, that may have some development along their shorelines, and that may have undergone some impoundment or diversion in the past. See Ohio Code 1546.01
  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Watercraft: means any of the following when used or capable of being used for transportation on the water:

    (1) A vessel operated by machinery either permanently or temporarily affixed;

    (2) A sailboat other than a sailboard;

    (3) An inflatable, manually propelled vessel that is required by federal law to have a hull identification number meeting the requirements of the United States coast guard;

    (4) A canoe, kayak, pedalboat, or rowboat;

    (5) Any of the following multimodal craft being operated on waters in this state:

    (a) An amphibious vehicle;

    (b) A submersible;

    (c) An airboat or hovercraft. See Ohio Code 1546.01

  • Waters in this state: means all streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, and other bodies of water, natural or humanmade, that are situated wholly or partially within this state or within its jurisdiction and are used for recreational boating. See Ohio Code 1546.01

(1) Administer and enforce all laws relative to the identification, numbering, registration, titling, use, and operation of vessels operated on the waters in this state;

(2) Promote, and educate and inform the citizens of the state about, conservation, navigation, safety practices, and the benefits of recreational boating;

(3) Provide for and assist in the development, maintenance, and operation of marine recreational facilities, docks, launching facilities, and harbors for the benefit of public navigation, recreation, or commerce if the chief of the division determines that they are in the best interests of the state;

(4) Provide wild, scenic, and recreational river area conservation education and provide for corridor protection, restoration, habitat enhancement, and clean-up projects in those areas;

(5) Coordinate and plan trails in accordance with section 1519.03 of the Revised Code;

(6) Administer any state or federally funded grant program that is related to natural resources and recreation as considered necessary by the director of natural resources.

(B) The division shall create, supervise, operate, protect, and maintain, and promote the use by the public of, a system of state parks and wild, scenic, and recreational river areas. As part of that responsibility, the division shall control and manage all lands and waters dedicated and set apart for state park purposes. The division shall do all of the following regarding those lands and waters:

(1) Protect and maintain them;

(2) Make alterations and improvements;

(3) Construct and maintain dikes, wharves, landings, docks, dams, and other works;

(4) Construct and maintain roads and drives in, around, upon, and to the lands and waters to make them conveniently accessible and useful to the public.

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