ODNR Parks & Watercraft Cleveland Marine Office

🛟 On Wednesday, our Natural Resources Officers trained with USCG Station Cleveland Harbor on self rescues and survivor rescues with a rescue sling. Thank you to USCG Station Cleveland Harbor and United States Coast Guard Sector Eastern Great Lakes for having our officers out to practice these critical skills!

🧊As a reminder, we want to remind you that “No Ice is Safe Ice” and that with the approaching warmer temperatures, the ice can become very unstable. For more information, check out the ODNR website and follow USCG publications and warnings.

On January 23rd, Natural Resources Officers and Officers from Cleveland Metroparks, Lorain County Sheriff's Office, Lake County Sheriffs Office, Rocky River Police Department, and Cuyahoga County Sheriff attended an 8 hour NASBLA BUI Seated Transition Training Course taught by ODNR Instructors at our Cleveland Office. We have several boating under the influence cases every year and encourage everyone to designate a sober operator.

🏊 This week and next, Natural Resources Officers in Northeast Ohio are completing their annual swim test. This is an important skill that all of our Natural Resources Officers need to maintain as we work on a lot of different waterways throughout Ohio. Some of the officers who are Officer Water Survival instructors or Swift Water Rescue Technicians also have to complete a more challenging test called the Watermanship test.

🤔 If you are wondering what our hiring qualification is for swimming, here is the swim test requirement from our most recent NRO recruitment flyer:
“Must be able to continuously swim 300 yards in 12 minutes or less; continuously tread water for 5 minutes; and perform surface dive and retrieve object in less than 5 feet of water from treading water position.”




🗣️ If you would like to talk to an NRO about other portions of the hiring process, we will have NROs ready to answer your questions at an upcoming open house:

Thursday, March 5
Wingfoot Lake State Park Boat Barn, 993 Goodyear Park Boulevard, Mogadore, OH 44260from 5p.m. to 8 p.m.
Those interested in attending are encouraged to register in advance by sending an email to [email protected]

We will have a booth at both the Ohio RV and Boat Show in Columbus and the Progressive Cleveland Boat Show this weekend as well as having our Natural Resources Officers helping with presentations. Stop by and say hi if you are there!

Today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and we’re proud to recognize and thank our Natural Resources Officers—past and present—for their dedication and service.

Our Northeast Unit A Maritime Officers patrol Lake Erie from Vermilion to Conneaut, covering more than 2,600 square miles of water, 100+ miles of coastline, and five major commercial ports. Their work includes search and rescue responses, daily law enforcement patrols, and investigations of watercraft crashes.

Beyond enforcement, these officers also play an important role in education and community events throughout the year—building connections and keeping Ohio’s waterways safe for everyone.

Thank you for all you do.

2026 OBEC dates for Lake and Ashtabula Counties now available! These classes are put on by officers from our Geneva Field Office. 🛥️

January 31, 2026: 8 am - 5 pm City of Geneva fire department classroom. 800 Austin Rd. Geneva, OH 44041.

February 14, 2026: 9 am - 6 pm Madison Public Library. 6111 Middle Ridge Rd. Madison, OH 44057.

March 14, 2026: 8 am - 5 pm City of Geneva Ohio fire department classroom. 800 Austin Rd. Geneva, OH 44041.

March 28, 2026: 9 am - 6 pm Madison Public Library. 6111 Middle Ridge Rd. Madison, OH 44057.

Classes are free and open to the public.

Call to sign up 440-466-8400📞

Last night Natural Resources Officers participated in Light Ohio Blue’s 2025 Operation Santa’s Sleigh in Cleveland. The parade went by four Cleveland hospitals and included dozens of public safety vehicles. We hope that we brought a few smiles and some holiday cheer to the patients and the staff who are there during the holidays. We even invited the family members of our Natural Resources Officers to help decorate the cars and spread holiday cheer!

Ohio State Parks
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Cleveland Clinic
University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Ronald McDonald House

Happy Holidays from Cleveland ODNR! We created a fun coloring page you can print for the kids. We also have copies available at our Cleveland Office that you can get if you come to renew your registration. Be safe and happy holidays!

Ohio Boating and Watercraft
Ohio Department of Natural Resources

🚨 ODNR Natural Resources Officers Respond to Capsized Vessel in Cuyahoga River 🚨

Natural Resources Officers responded yesterday to a report of a capsized Jon boat in the Cuyahoga River. Upon investigation, officers determined the boat had gone missing during the summer from an active construction project taking place in the river. Officers worked quickly with the construction company to have it removed from the water. Even though our patrol boats are out of the water, our officers went above and beyond by getting on the construction vessel to get to the overturned Jon boat.

We’re grateful for the swift response of our Natural Resources Officers and their continued efforts to keep our waterways safe. 🌊🚤

Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Ohio Boating and Watercraft

Thanks for having us out Cuyahoga County!

Spreading some holiday cheer this weekend 🎄

On Saturday, two of our Natural Resources Officers proudly took part in the North Olmsted Police Department Shop with a Cop event—helping make the season a little brighter for local kids.

NROs Riley Vertosnik and Kyle Po**ck (Cleveland Maritime Office) joined young shoppers to pick out special holiday gifts and share some smiles along the way. 🎁