Governor DeWine Announces H2Ohio Milestone: More than 200 Wetlands Complete or In-progress Statewide

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz today announced funding for eight new wetland projects, bringing the grand total of H2Ohio wetlands in Ohio to 203.  

“We’re excited to celebrate this important milestone of more than 200 H2Ohio wetland projects,” said Governor DeWine. “Science and data tell us that improving Ohio’s water quality will take time, but over the long run, we know that every H2Ohio wetland will contribute to preventing algal blooms and keeping Ohio’s waterways clean.”

A total of $7.7 million in H2Ohio grant funding will support the eight new wetland projects located in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) counties of Williams, Lucas, Wood, Hancock, and Ottawa. H2Ohio has taken a targeted approach to improving water quality in the WLEB due to the region’s impact on Lake Erie. Of all H2Ohio wetlands, 105 are working to improve water quality in the WLEB.

“I’m thrilled to see these H2Ohio wetland projects throughout the entire state of Ohio and the impact each and every single one has when it comes to water quality,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “These projects have also done so much for the Buckeye State with preserving the natural beauty and environment for plant life and wildlife.”

Wetlands are one vital piece of the H2Ohio initiative. Wetlands help slow the flow of water and allow nutrients to settle, which can help reduce nutrient loading into larger waterways that cause harmful algal blooms. Natural infrastructure, like wetlands, are scientifically proven to take up nutrients that are in the soil to fuel ecosystems and native plants instead of flowing downstream.

Through H2Ohio, ODNR has partnered with a team of researchers in the Lake Erie Aquatic Research Network (LEARN) to closely monitor and analyze H2Ohio wetland projects’ efficacy. ODNR uses these analyses to better understand how wetlands are working on the landscape and make adjustments to projects to produce the most valuable water quality improvements.

Fiscal Year 2025 Statewide Wetland Projects and Partners

• Ducks Unlimited
-Farm Wetland Restoration in Ottawa County: $297,570
-Farm Wetland Restoration in Ottawa County: $94,760
-Mallard Club Restoration Phase 3 Project in Lucas County: $2,975,000

• Lucas Soil Water and Conservation District
-Tenmile Floodplain Restoration in Lucas County: $600,000

• ODNR Division of Engineering and Division of Parks and Watercraft
-Van Buren State Park Floodplain Restoration in Hancock County: $3,000,000

• Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District
-Farm Wetland Reconnection in Ottawa County: $248,000

• The Nature Conservancy
-Rocky Ford Wildlife Production Area Wetland Restoration in Wood County: $326,732

• Williams Soil and Water Conservation District
-Farm Wetland Restoration in Williams County: $160,126

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.