The Ohio DNR resumiong sales of nonresident licenses and Lake County’s interpretation on boating regulations leads the updates on Chicago outdoors and the coronavirus.

The Ohio DNR’s reopening sales of nonresident licenses on Friday leads this update on Chicago outdoors and coronavirus.

By Dale Bowman

A file photo, looking south from Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island, of Perry Monument in the predawn on Lake Erie. Credit: Dale Bowman — A file photo, looking south from Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island, of Perry Monument in the predawn on Lake Erie.

[IMPORTANT UPDATE] Jamey Emmert, wildlife communications specialist for the Ohio DNR, emailed this morning an update to the resumption of nonresident licenses, “The 14 day quarantine for non-residents [in Ohio] remains in effect.”

It’s been a long wait, during the peak of walleye fishing on Lake Erie, but the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced sales of nonresident licenses will resume on Friday, May 8.

That leads this update on Chicago outdoors and the coronavirus.

Here is the update on the Ohio DNR website:

COVID-19 Update Due to the national health crisis, the Division of Wildlife Call Center will be working remotely and available to answer your questions by email between the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Please email your inquiry to wildinfo@dnr.ohio.gov. From the hours of 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., the licensing help desk may be reached by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE. Update: Sales of nonresident licenses and permits will resume May 8.

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Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg issued this interpretation on boating regulations Wednesday. Click here for the full text.

The key paragraphs are these:

I directed my staff to seek further guidance from state officials and DCEO on enforcement provisions of this, and whether or not it applies to families who reside together. All of the responses we’ve received from our inquiries indicate local law-enforcement has full discretion on enforcement of the boating provision. Therefore, we are exercising this discretion and I’ve instructed my staff not to issue citations to families who are utilizing our Lake County waterways. It is my hope people will not take advantage of this by inviting friends and non-family-members on their boat. This is not the time to take to the waterways to party. It is important for everyone to remember, abuses of our discretion or violating the temporary regulations issued by the Fox Waterway Agency could result in the Chain O’Lakes being closed. I can’t emphasize this enough – please be responsible, use good judgement, and follow all maritime laws when enjoying our waterways.

I hate to have to emphasis this, but the second paragraph matters as much as the first.

FYI, as of noon Thursday, both the lower and upper Fox River remained closed, while the Chain O’Lakes remained at no-wake. Click here to check status changes posted by the Fox Waterway Agency.

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Click here for what sites are listed as open by the Illinois DNR.

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Should have noted this earlier, but the Morton Arboretum in Lisle has extended its closure through May 31. Click here for details.

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Brookfield Zoo remains closed “until further notice.” Click here for details.

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Probably most paddlers already know this, but I couldn’t remember if I ever posted this. The Des Plaines River Canoe & Kayak Maraton is canceled. It was last canceled in 2018 by a flood.

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Chicago outdoors/coronavirus [Updated]: Ohio nonresident sales, Lake County interpretation on boating

The Ohio DNR’s reopening sales of nonresident licenses on Friday leads this update on Chicago outdoors and coronavirus.