I. Title of Program Or Issue: Mentor Lagoons Land Use Case Study

A. Situational Statement: Urban sprawl has been identified as one of the priority environmental problems in Northeast Ohio by Case Western Reserve Universities Regional Environmental Priorities Project. Communities face the challenge of preserving open space and a quality environment and continuing economic development. How can economic development and natural area preservation coexist? How can we learn to build a sustainable economy?

B. Description /Educational Objectives: To teach adults about land use issues using the Mentor Lagoons as a case study. To increase awareness of non-market economic values associated with our natural resources. To have participants experience a real life example of the competing uses of our limited natural resources. To have participants actively work on a potential solution to an actual land use problem.

C. Suggested Time Required for Program: Two to three hours.

Suggested Time of Year: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter.

D. Audience And Level of Offering: District or statewide small group meetings. Individual teaching by phone, mail, fact sheet, and reference materials.

E. Teaching methods, Resources, Costs: Small group workshops and hands on activities using the Mentor Lagoons as a community land use case study. Participants will be asked to develop a list of potential stakeholders, discuss who and what will be gained or lost and how citizens can be involved in the decision making process. We will use active learning to develop a land use plan for the Mentor Lagoons.

F. Contact Person: Frank Lichtkoppler, Northeast District (Lake County), OSU Extension, Lake County, 99 E. Erie Street, Painesville, OH 44077, Phone: 216-350-2267.