Recently, $3 million in H2Ohio grant funding was directed to nine wetland projects to help improve water quality in the Ohio River Basin.
Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources awarded projects in Athens, Butler, Clark, Delaware, Franklin, Mahoning, Montgomery, Pickaway and Wayne counties to create wetlands, restore wetlands on hydric soils and/or enhance water quality at existing wetlands and floodplains.
This is the second round of H2Ohio grants focused exclusively on the Ohio River Basin. In round one, 10 wetland projects were awarded a total of $4.3 million to address nutrient loading and contribute to water quality improvement in the Ohio River and its tributaries.
“It’s exciting to share the nature-based approach to water quality we have been implementing in the northern part of the state with even more communities,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “It has always been our goal to extend the H2Ohio initiative across the entire state, and we are glad to be able to support these new projects in the Ohio River Basin.”
Wetlands help improve water quality by trapping, filtering and removing excess pollutants and nutrients, like phosphorus, from the water before they flow into waterways and contribute to harmful algal blooms. Right now, there are more than 80 H2Ohio wetland projects underway.
The Ohio River Basin H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program is funded as part of Ohio’s 2022-2023 operating budget.
ODA and SWCD are hosting a series of informational meetings for farmers to learn about H2Ohio incentives, the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative, best management practices and open enrollment.
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The comprehensive study found that water quality has improved tremendously over the years, with 86% of the state’s large rivers in good to excellent condition compared to just 18% in the 1980s.
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Get an update on the H2Ohio water quality initiative and find out what a cost-benefit analysis says about the funding allocated to farmers taking part in the initiative.
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The H2Ohio water quality program is reducing the amount of fertilizer entering northwest Ohio waterways and is an efficient use of state funding.
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Projects will create wetlands, restore wetlands on hydric soils and/or enhance water quality at existing wetlands and floodplains.
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ODA, Farm Bureau and the Demo Farms are partnering to assess the agronomic and economic impacts of H2Ohio Best Management Practices.
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Newly appointed Ohio NRCS Chief John Wilson talks about stepping into his new role and some of the challenges and goals he has for his agency moving forward.
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A new film about water quality in Lake Erie skips over all of the advancements being made by farmers in northwest Ohio and beyond.
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Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda discusses the success of H2Ohio in northwest Ohio and how her agency has helped farmers through the challenges of Ohio’s food supply chain.
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Ohio Farm Bureau is encouraging members to learn more about the H2Ohio application process and the program’s conservation practices by attending these meetings.
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