As part of Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is accepting applications for the 2024 statewide wetland grant program. H2Ohio seeks to fund high quality natural infrastructure projects aimed at improving water quality and reducing nutrient runoff in the state.

The H2Ohio Statewide Wetland Grant Program is a reimbursement grant program that provides up-to-100 percent funding for projects in the state. In each project application, the budget must be justified with a minimum funding request of $50,000. There is no maximum funding cap.

“The selected projects will be granted crucial funding from H2Ohio to build upon the progress the state is already making in cleaning our waterways and improving our drinking water,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “These investments are essential opportunities to better our natural resources for years to come.”

In 2023, ODNR announced $8.2 million in H2Ohio grants to support 12 new wetland projects in 11 counties across Ohio. Grantees included a diverse group of non-profits, park districts, townships, and local county entities.

Types of eligible H2Ohio wetland or natural-infrastructure projects include:

• Wetland creation
• Hydrologic restoration of wetlands on hydric soils
• Hydrologic enhancement of existing wetlands, floodplains, and riparian corridors
• Stream, conservation channel design and floodplain restoration
• Restoration of forested riparian buffers

Grant applications for this competitive program must be submitted to ODNR in a searchable PDF format by June 7, 2024.

H2Ohio projects in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) watershed are under an alternative application and award process. Applications for WLEB projects are accepted year-round.

Eligible WLEB watershed counties include: Allen, Auglaize, Crawford, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Huron, Lucas, Marion, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Van Wert, Williams, Wood, and Wyandot.

If your project is located in one of these counties, contact H2Ohio@dnr.ohio.gov before submitting an H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program application.

For more information, visit the H2Ohio Statewide Wetland Grant Program webpage.

H2Ohio is Governor DeWine’s statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio’s waters. Launched in 2019, H2Ohio uses a comprehensive approach guided by science and data to reduce algal blooms, stop pollution, and improve access to clean drinking water by supporting best farming practices, road salt runoff reduction, litter cleanup, dam removal, land conservation, and water infrastructure revitalization. For more information visit h2.ohio.gov.