Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Lawmakers Hear Wide Support to Restore H2Ohio Wetlands and Water‑quality Funding
Summary
Scientists, conservation groups, farmers and local officials urged the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee to restore the H2Ohio budget to the administration's original proposal so wetland restorations, farm conservation and other projects can continue.
Supporters of Ohio's H2Ohio water‑quality program told the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee that cutting the program's funding would imperil ongoing wetland restorations, conservation practices and related research. Testimony emphasized that the program's results take multiple years to develop and that funding uncertainty slows work and discourages landowner participation.
Why it matters: H2Ohio funds a mix of wetland construction, farm conservation incentives and local infrastructure projects aimed at reducing nutrient runoff that fuels harmful algal blooms, including in Lake Erie and Grand Lake St. Marys. Witnesses said the program leverages federal and private funds and supports a conservation delivery network across the state.
Several speakers described technical and economic reasons the program needs sustained support. Dr. Steven Jackman, professor of water quality at Wright State Lake Campus, told the committee that wetlands and other conservation practices have…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
