As a part of Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) today dedicated the Trumbull Creek Wetlands Restoration Project in Ashtabula County.

“Clean water is vital to the health and happiness of families here in Ohio,” Governor DeWine said.  “We’re always excited to announce when construction on a new H2Ohio wetland is complete, because that means safer water for even more
communities across this great state.”

This 30-acre project transformed a farm field into forested wetlands, emergent marsh, and upland forest.  The new natural infrastructure will filter nitrogen and phosphorus before it can flow into the Grand River watershed and eventually Lake Erie.  The landscape also provides important habitat for wildlife, recreation, and educational opportunities.

“Our main goal with H2Ohio is to improve water quality, but sites like this show just how diverse these wetlands can be,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said.  “People can now come to watch native wildlife or birds just passing through, students can learn about plants and the role they play, or families can come to just enjoy the beauty and tranquility these wetlands provide to the public.”

Within the wetland restoration site, ODNR and the Stream and Wetlands Foundations planted 18,550 trees, as well as a diverse seed mix of native plants.  This site will eventually be transferred to the ODNR Division of Wildlife.

“We were honored to be chosen to receive a grant from H2Ohio,” Stream and Wetlands Foundation President Vincent Messerly said. “The entire team at ODNR has been responsive and effective at helping us navigate the grant program for the first time for this project.  We are hopeful that we can do additional wetland habitat restoration projects in the future through the H2Ohio program.”

This project is one of more than 80 H2Ohio wetland projects now underway or completed by ODNR. Once finished, the wetland restoration is expected to cost $936,383.

Governor DeWine created H2Ohio in 2019 as a comprehensive, data-driven approach to combatting algal blooms, enhancing water quality, and improving water infrastructure over the long term. H2Ohio was launched with support from the Ohio General Assembly, which invested in the program in Ohio’s two most recent operating budgets. H2Ohio operates in partnership between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. The initiative focuses on encouraging agricultural best management practices, restoring and enhancing wetlands, upgrading outdated water infrastructure, and replacing lead pipes. For more information on the H2Ohio initiative, please visit h2.ohio.gov.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

– 30 –