SUFFIELD, OH – The highly anticipated public opening of the German Church Road boat ramp at Berlin Lake has anglers of the edges of their boat seats according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The ramp, located at 15988 German Church Road, Atwater, opened for use following a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, May 25th, 2017.

Berlin Lake is one of the most popular boating and fishing lakes, not only in northeast Ohio, but the entire state. "The new boat launching site provides much needed access for the southwestern end of the lake," said ODNR Division of Wildlife northeast Ohio Fish Management Supervisor Phil Hillman. "This new launch site will include a two-lane, concrete boat ramp, as well as parking for 95 vehicles. A majority of the spaces will accommodate boat trailers. This launching facility will provide relief to the heavily-used Bonner Road boat ramp and will provide reasonable boating access late into the boating season (generally into September)," noted Hillman.

This $1.3 million project was funded by the Boater-Angler Fund (5P2) which comes from a portion of the state sales tax on gasoline received by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Seventy-five percent of the project cost will be reimbursed to the ODNR Division of Wildlife from the USFWS Sport Fish Restoration program. This program generates funds from an excise tax on fishing equipment. Projects such as boat ramp installations exponentially increases the division's ability to reinvest in local communities. Funding for projects like this one is derived from the federal Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) program. No state tax dollars are used for this activity. This is a user-pay, user-benefit program.

Berlin Lake is one of the best and most diverse fishing lakes the Buckeye State has to offer. While best known for its premier walleye fishing, Berlin Lake also has excellent populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass, black and white crappie, channel catfish, and has the only documented muskellunge population sustained through natural reproduction.

A free map of Berlin Lake which illustrates water depths, parking areas, boat ramp locations, and other features is available by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or visiting wildohio.gov.

Questions can be directed to Wildlife District Three in Akron by calling (330) 644-2293.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.