Q. My real estate deed indicates I own a section of the old canal adjacent to my property. How can the state claim they own the canal when I have a deed for the property?
A. To expedite construction of the canal system the Ohio Legislature passed The Canal Act of 1825. The Act authorized the state to appropriate the land needed for the canals construction. Land owners were allowed up to two years to apply to the state for compensation of appropriated land. In many cases, the lands owner were so eager to have the canal come through their property and never requested compensation. Since most of the land was appropriated, deeds of transfer were never issued, and there were limited records of the transfers. Over the years, as real estate has been transferred, many deeds descriptions have inadvertently included the canal land.
Q. I want to put a drive way over canal land to access my property. May I do this?
A. Yes, if it does not interfere with drainage, or the access of others etc..
Please send a written request including details and a map, or:
Download, print, fill out and mail in the 5k PDF application form.
If your project is approved we will contact you to proceed with a lease of the property This same procedure applies for utilities (pipes, phone/electric, etc.).
Q. May I drain my storm water in the canal across from my property?
A. The original canal system was not designed to receive stormwater from adjacent areas. Today, however, in some areas the canal has been included in the local stormwater drainage systems. Each situation must be reviewed by our hydraulic engineering section to determine its impact on the canal. Please send a written request including details and a map, or:
Download, print, fill out and mail in the 5k PDF application form.
Q. Where can I find more about the history of Ohio's Canal System?
A. The Ohio Historical Society as well as many local historical societies can provide a detailed history of the Ohio's canal system. There have been numerous books and articles written about the canal and life on the canals. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is the custodian of copies of the original land survey maps. These maps are available on this web site under http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/3287/Default.aspx. This is the Original Canal Survey Plat Maps Main Page
The original surveyors field notes are available at the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus.