With warmer weather, the number of boats and other watercraft on Mahoning Valley waterways is increasing.

A recent survey shows recreational boating supports 25,476 jobs within Ohio, including a good number in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

In 2022, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Penn and Associates teamed up to survey the economic impact and customer satisfaction of recreational boating in the state.

Of special note in the findings:

* A total of $6.4 billion is generated annually by recreational boating in Ohio. Some $3.66 billion is generated directly from recreational boaters in expenditures related to both the vessels themselves (insurance, boat purchases, docking fees, registration, etc.) and trip-item expenditures associated with the activity (lodging, restaurant meals, fishing supplies, etc.). An additional $2.75 billion is generated by the marine trades industry through charters, dealers, education, liveries, marinas, manufacturers and storage. This portion of the economic benefit supports 20,380 jobs in Ohio.

* In 2022, Ohioans spent 315 million hours boating in Ohio. Some 187 million of these hours were spent on motorized boats.

* In 2022, there were 631,563 registered boats in Ohio, with almost 242,000 estimated not to be registered. Women account for 24.3 percent of nonmotorized primary boat operators and 6.4 percent of motorized primary boat operators.

* Some 63.6 percent of Ohio boaters traveled under 20 miles to reach a waterway, with 31.9 percent traveling less than 5 miles.

IN THE VALLEY

For Mahoning County boaters, the survey shows that the economic impact of recreational boating totals more than $53 million, with the number of boats in the county numbering 16,741 (10,580 motorized). Most Mahoning County boaters choose Lake Milton for their motorized boats, while Berlin Reservoir is tops for nonmotorized boaters.

In Trumbull County, the survey shows the economic impact totaled almost $75 million in 2022, with the total boats numbering 20,695 (14,942 motorized). Mosquito Lake is the No. 1 body of water for Trumbull County boating.

Bob Everett of Warren, who spent a recent sunny spring day beside the new docks constructed at the Bazetta reservoir, said Mosquito Lake always has been his favorite fishing spot, and he has done a lot of fishing.

“Crappie, walleye, bass, you name it — they have it here,” said Everett, who has fished lakes and rivers in five states.

Everett said the water level this spring has been “just right” for boaters and fishermen. He said he likes the spot in Mosquito near the old bridge near the cemetery: “It’s 16 to 19 feet deep right there.”

Alex Petruska of North Jackson said Mosquito is his favorite place to fish, picking it over Lake Milton.

“Yes this is like my home lake,” Petruska said near the boat ramp last week after finishing a round of fishing. “Here at Mosquito you can pull in a 20- to 25- (inch) catch and at Lake Milton, it would take about 10 catches to get one that big.”

Also pulling in a large bass last week was kayaker Troy Meyerhopfler of Shaker Heights, who said it was his first time on Mosquito.

“I found out about this lake through a Google search,” said Meyerhopfler, who said he recently moved from Manhattan. “I fished a lot of saltwater and it’s going to take some time to get used to being on fresh water. I haven’t fished that way since growing up in western Virginia.”

Retired commercial pilot Mark Paul of Howland turned up at the boat ramp at Mosquito to test his 225-horsepower motor for his 21-foot Zodiac craft. Paul said he usually puts the boat into Lake Erie, but thinks the lakes of the Mahoning Valley, such as Mosquito and Milton, can provide an economic boon to the area.

“We need to have our politicians get together with the state officials and the Army Corps of Engineers (which operate to lakes) to come up with ways to make it beneficial for all,” Paul said, noting that Corps regulations seem to hamper development on Mosquito.

Paul said the state takeover of Lake Milton decades ago benefited the area and the real estate market as repairs to the dam drove up land values.

“You have a lot of multi-million-dollar development over there (at Lake Milton),” Paul said.

The same could be happening in the land around Mosquito, Paul said, if the Corps drops some restrictions, such as emissions controls and other limits on homeowners along the lake.

“It seems that conservation efforts could be concentrated along the 18-mile shoreline north of the (Route 88) causeway, while the Corps can concentrate on the area of the lake south on recreational efforts,” he said.

Paul said he believes the improvements at Mosquito, such as the new docks and other new construction in the state park, are a step in the right direction.

“We have to take economic advantage of the recreational value that our lakes bring,” he said.

Cathy Knapp of Howland, who last week was trying out a jet ski off the boat ramp of Lake Milton, said she personally has experienced the economic value of the lakes in the Mahoning Valley.

“I have operated a campground out here (in Lake Milton area) for about 40 years,” she said. “It has been my life.”

FOLLOW THE RULES

Meanwhile, the state government wants to make sure all boaters and fishermen taking advantage of the local lakes can do so safely.

The Ohio Boat Operator’s Guide is a summary of boating laws and rules. In it boaters will find:

* Boating laws specific to Ohio — for example, operator age, lifejackets, water skiing, etc.;

* Required safety equipment;

* Boat registration and titling laws for Ohio;

* Sound signals, lighting requirements and buoys and navigation markers.

The guide can be downloaded for free by going to the website https://ohiodnr.gov/ and click under “Boater Education and Skills.”