H2Ohio projects expand into Ohio River Basin

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.

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