Governor DeWine Announces $5 Million in H2Ohio Grants for Ohio River Basin Wetland Projects
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that $5 million in grants is now available for local wetland projects aimed at improving water quality in the Ohio River Basin.
According to Mike DeWine's website, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is administering the Ohio River Basin H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program as part of Governor DeWine's H2Ohio initiative. The program is funded as part of Ohio's 2022-2023 budget.
"Many new and restored H2Ohio wetlands are already working to reduce algal blooms on Lake Erie, and we're excited to continue expanding wetlands projects into other parts of the state," said Governor DeWine in the news release on his website. "Everyone deserves clean water, and by targeting this grant funding to the Ohio River Basin, it will help ensure that communities here have the opportunity to invest in wetland projects to naturally improve water quality for future generations."
According to DeWine's websites, wetlands will help improve water quality by trapping, filtering, and removing excess pollutants and nutrients from water before it enters into waterways and contribute to harmful algal blooms. Right now, there are nearly 60 H2Ohio wetland projects underway or complete.
The Ohio River Basin H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program provides up to $500,000 per project for wetland projects, and the eligible projects include: wetland creation; wetland restoration on hydric soils; and existing wetland and floodplain water quality enhancements.
A full list of criteria and program priorities can be found at odnr.gov.
The deadline to apply for the program is Sept. 30, 2021, according to DeWine's website.
