Budget hearings: witnesses urge continued funding for ODNR programs, H2Ohio, forestry, parks and wildlife in House Bill 96

Witnesses at House Natural Resources Committee budget hearings urged lawmakers to maintain or increase funding for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the H2Ohio program, forestry services and state parks as part of the biannual operating budget in House Bill 96.

Jenna Reese of the Ohio Forestry Association told the committee, "There are nearly 8,000,000 acres of forests in Ohio, which account for 30% of total land use in the state," and said 85% of that acreage is privately owned. Reese said private landowners rely on ODNR service foresters for technical assistance on forest management, insect and disease control and watershed protection and supported funding in HB 96 that would expand those services and the Buckeye State Tree Nursery.

Rebecca Molino of The Nature Conservancy said the group supports the governor's proposed funding for ODNR and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and urged continued investment in H2Ohio. "H2Ohio program launched in 2019 is an innovative approach to improving our water resources and meeting our commitment to reducing the nutrients that run off into Lake Erie and cause harmful algal blooms," Molino said, noting H2Ohio-funded wetlands have filtered runoff from more than 90,000 acres and that the program has created or restored over 16,000 acres of wetlands.

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