Ohio’s plan for
clean water

60,000

Existing Miles of
Rivers & Streams

430,000

Existing Acres of
Wetland Areas

125,000

Existing Lakes,
Reservoirs & Ponds

A Collaborative Approach to the Issues Facing Ohio’s Water

About H2Ohio

H2Ohio is Governor Mike DeWine’s comprehensive, data-driven water quality plan to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater infrastructure, and prevent lead contamination.
“As a state, we are committed to helping farmers adopt the practices that can make a real difference. We will invest in creating more wetlands. And, we will help communities improve their water systems and remove decrepit septic systems.”
Mike DeWine

Ohio Governor

The Importance of Partnership

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency each has a significant role in H2Ohio through the creation of wetlands, the reduction in phosphorus runoff, and access to clean drinking water and quality sewer systems.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Ohio Department of Agriculture

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

What’s Happening

Latest Developments

H2Ohio and COSI Celebrate Water on Earth Day

As part of Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, agency directors from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the Ohio EPA, and the Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) joined COSI’s CEO for an Earth Day celebration...

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H2Ohio Coastal Wetland Projects Commence in Sandusky Bay

As part of Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is collaborating with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) on two coastal wetland restoration projects at Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area in Sandusky County....

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ODA Awards Funding for H2Ohio Two-Stage Ditch Program

As part of Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is awarding $4.2 million in grants for 12 two-stage ditch projects. “We are keeping our foot on the gas pedal to reach our nutrient reduction goals,” said ODA Director Brian...

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ODA Gives Awards for Dedication to Water Quality

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) showed its appreciation for exceptional leadership and commitment to conservation by honoring the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Sunrise Cooperative, and Ed Crawford of the Natural Resource...

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H2Ohio Stakeholder Presentation November 2022

Agency directors from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio EPA, and Ohio Lake Erie Commission provide an update on the progress of Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative.

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What’s Happening

Upcoming Events

H2Ohio Dashboards on the DataOhio Portal 

Below are links to dashboards showing the progress of H2Ohio projects and overall phosphorus reduction estimates. Simply click on the links below to be redirected to the dashboards on the DataOhio Portal.

 Estimated Phosphorus Reduction

This dashboard shows total estimated phosphorus reduction in pounds by county. Projects implemented by ODA, ODNR, and Ohio EPA are represented.

Agricultural Best Management Practices  
This dashboard breaks down agricultural BMPs in each county by producers enrolled, acres enrolled, acres completed, and amount of funding awarded.

Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans

This dashboard breaks down Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans (VNMPs) by producers enrolled, acres completed, acres enrolled, percentage of acres completed, and amount of funding awarded. Users can view VNMPs by county or by watershed and in the Maumee Watershed and Western Lake Erie Basin.

Regional Watershed Program

This dashboard shows Ohio’s seven watershed regions with land use percentages and outlines the conservation priorities in each.

Wetland Project Funding and Metrics

This dashboard details wetland projects by county including project status, total project acres and funding awarded.

Map of Wetlands Projects

This dashboard shows the locations wetland projects by county and includes project status. Users can also filter by legislative districts.

Lead Service Line Replacements  

This dashboard includes the number of, and funding awarded for lead service line replacement projects and lead service line inventory and mapping. Users can filter information by county, project status, and project type.

Water and Sewer Improvements

This dashboard breaks down drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects by county and includes project status and funding awarded.

Home Sewage Treatment Systems

This dashboard shows total funding awarded and metrics of home sewage treatment system repairs, replacements, and connections by county.

USGS Rain Gages and Nutrient Monitors

This dashboard demonstrates metrics associated with US Geological Survey (USGS) rain gages and nutrient monitors, which regularly measure rain totals and nutrient levels in Lake Erie.  

H2Ohio Agency Story Maps

H2Ohio is highly collaborative, including work from ODA, ODNR and Ohio EPA to achieve improved water quality. Wetland projects and water infrastructure projects are being constructed and completed statewide. Agricultural best management practices are being implemented on farmland across the Western Lake Erie Basin. A comprehensive look at H2Ohio efforts across the state can be viewed in one place here on the H2Ohio Story Map.

Click the map to view H2Ohio Story Map. 

“I wanted to be involved in H2Ohio. I mean, we participated in conservation practices through the Soil and Water in the past, it was a good fit for us. We’re always trying to learn to do something a little better.”

Denny Vennekotter

H2Ohio Producer

“Governor Mike Dewine, ODNR Director Mary Mertz, and the State Legislature should be commended for their efforts to improve the quality of water for all Ohio residents by investing not only in the creation of a large number of wetlands which can substantively reduce the primary cause of Harmful Algal Blooms, but also for their wisdom to include funding to evaluate the effectiveness of each of the wetlands.”

Dr. W. Robert Midden

Bowling Green State University, LEARN

“While we know H2Ohio practices work at a field scale, support from Ohio Lake Erie Commission  and HABRI for watershed modeling efforts is critical to determine impacts at larger scales, and the amount of practices needed to reach Lake Erie water quality targets.”

Dr. Jay Martin

The Ohio State University

Click image above for full H2Ohio Annual Report

“It’s something that’s hard to relate to if you already have a public water utility. The ones that don’t have a public utility will buy a big flatbed truck or similar truck, put a 500-gallon tank in the back, drive down to the county seat in Caldwell, fill it up however many times a week or a month that they need to, and then they come and dump that tank into a holding tank at their house. Constantly budgeting showers and laundry, and that kind of thing, you know, it’s hard to put a price tag on. It’s life changing when someone goes from we don’t have water to thank you for the water.”

Brad Peoples

Noble County Commissioner

Governor DeWine’s 2019 H2Ohio Announcement

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