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
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
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...
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...
New H2Ohio Grant Opportunity to Help Drinking Water Systems Pay for Equipment
As part of his comprehensive strategy to improve water quality in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio EPA Director Laurie Stevenson announced today that his H2Ohio initiative will be investing $1 million in mini grants for drinking water system equipment needs in...
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.
Governor DeWine Awards Lead Line Mapping Grants
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio EPA Director Laurie A. Stevenson today announced approximately $2.4 million in H2Ohio grant assistance to help 53 public water systems take the first step toward removing and replacing lead water pipes. “Working with communities to...
New H2Ohio Wetland Project Coming to Medina County
Land acquired through partnership between ODNR and Medina County Park District. As part of Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Medina County Park District (MCPD) are announcing their third collaborative...
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.
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.
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.
This dashboard breaks down drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects by county and includes project status and funding awarded.
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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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.”
Governor DeWine’s 2019 H2Ohio Announcement