H2Ohio Masthead
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
November 24, 2021
*MEDIA CONTACTS:
*Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
Jill Del Greco: 614-644-0957
Governor DeWine Announces $5 Million for
H2Ohio Projects in the Ohio River Basin
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz announced today that $5 million in H2Ohio [ [link removed] ] grant funding will be directed to 13 wetland projects in 11 counties to help improve water quality in the Ohio River Basin.
"We are excited to continue the expansion of H2Ohio's work into the Ohio River Basin and to take the next big step toward naturally improving water quality across Ohio,” said Governor DeWine. “Water issues expand beyond Lake Erie, so by focusing this funding farther south, we can address water challenges on a bigger scale and help ensure that people throughout the state can experience the benefits of these wetlands.”
Governor DeWine announced the launch of the Ohio River Basin H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program [ [link removed] ] in July. The program provides up to $500,000 for wetland projects that address nutrient loading and contribute to water quality improvement in the Ohio River and its tributaries.
Awards will go to projects in Butler (2), Greene, Franklin (2), Hamilton, Holmes, Mahoning, Medina, Miami, Montgomery, Wayne, and Warren counties. Each project will create wetlands, restore wetlands on hydric soils, and/or enhance water quality at existing wetlands and floodplains.
Map [ [link removed] ]________________________________________________________________________
*MORE DETAILS: Grant Recipients and Project Information* [ [link removed] ]
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“We’ve seen a ton of success in northwest Ohio, and I am thrilled to see the H2Ohio initiative expand into the Ohio River Basin,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “We are really excited to add to the growing list of H2Ohio wetlands and share the benefits of these projects with everyone across the state.”
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 70 H2Ohio wetland projects underway [ [link removed] ].
The Ohio River Basin H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program is funded as part of Ohio's 2022-2023 operating budget which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed by Governor DeWine earlier this year.
H2Ohio is Governor DeWine’s initiative to ensure safe and clean water in Ohio. It is a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality over the long term. H2Ohio focuses on encouraging agricultural best management practices, restoring and enhancing wetlands, and replacing home septic systems to reduce nutrients that contribute to harmful algal blooms. For more information on the H2Ohio initiative, visit h2.ohio.gov [ [link removed] ].
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