H2Ohio is worth the investment, study says
The H2Ohio water quality program is reducing the amount of fertilizer entering northwest Ohio waterways and is an efficient use of state funding.
Read MoreOhio Farm Bureau has been heavily involved with Ohio EPA throughout the development of this TMDL, providing comments as early drafts were released.
Ohio EPA has released its proposal for a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Maumee River Watershed. The purpose of the TMDL is to formulate a plan for officials to develop and implement programs and policies to improve the quality of water within the designated area. The document recognized the efforts already underway in Ohio, including H2Ohio and conservation programs funded through the farm bill.
“Although Ohio agriculture doesn’t need a TMDL to move the needle on water quality, this proposal acknowledges that the focus being put on nutrient management by Ohio farmers is a major component to reach the goal of a healthier Maumee River,” said Jack Irvin, vice president of public policy with Ohio Farm Bureau. “Equally as important, it points out that the success of this TMDL demands that all sources of pollution do their part to reach the desired targets for clean water.”
Ohio Farm Bureau has been heavily involved with Ohio EPA throughout the development of this TMDL, providing comments as early drafts were released. That work continues as the organization’s public policy department combs through the over 330 page report and will provide additional comments if necessary.
The implementation of the Maumee River Watershed TMDL is still months away, as Ohio EPA finalizes its version of the proposal. It will then be reviewed by the US EPA before being considered for approval.
The H2Ohio water quality program is reducing the amount of fertilizer entering northwest Ohio waterways and is an efficient use of state funding.
Read MoreA second U.S. District Court ruled to halt the 2023 Waters of the United States rule. This ruling stops implementation of the rule in 24 states, including Ohio.
Read MoreAs information continues to be updated, Ohio Farm Bureau will continue to share all of the resources that have been gathered to this point
Read MoreThe implementation of the Maumee River Watershed TMDL is still months away, as Ohio EPA finalizes its version of the proposal.
Read MoreSeveral farmers in northwest Ohio are using funding from the H2Ohio water quality initiative to implement subsurface nutrient placement on their farms.
Read MoreOver the past year, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has started to develop a TMDL for the Maumee River watershed to address algal blooms and the sources of nutrients that attribute to those blooms.
Read MoreAdam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president, sent the following letter to the editor to The Toledo Blade in response to the Blade Editorial Board’s opinion piece, “Plan to protect Lake Erie needs teeth.”
Read MoreProjects will create wetlands, restore wetlands on hydric soils and/or enhance water quality at existing wetlands and floodplains.
Read MoreThe Farmer Advocates for Conservation project is training farmers to mentor other farmers in the Maumee River watershed.
Read MoreHoewischer and Stephanie Singer, agriculture outreach project manager at The Nature Conservancy, talk about the conservancy’s Farmer Advocates for Conservation Program.
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