Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz today announced $8.2 million in grants to support 12 new wetland projects.

The funds are being awarded as part of Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative through the H2Ohio Statewide Wetland Grant Program, which provides up to 100 percent funding for wetland projects across Ohio.

“We have made water quality a number one priority in the state through H2Ohio, and our wetlands program has been vital to that mission,” said Governor DeWine. “Adding more wetland projects around Ohio is just one more way to help keep our lakes and rivers clean.”

DETIALS: H2Ohio Statewide Wetland Grant Program

“This grant program helps us work with local partners around the state to get shovels in the ground quickly and work on projects that truly make a difference in water quality improvement,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “These partnerships have been instrumental in ODNR’s H2Ohio work over the last four years.”

ODNR has now launched 171 H2Ohio wetland projects, 86 of which are complete. The projects are cumulatively expected to reduce nitrogen by 798,000 pounds and capture 159,000 pounds of phosphorus every year once complete.

For more information on the H2Ohio initiative, visit h2.ohio.gov.