At a Glance: H2Ohio Fund

The State of Ohio’s new main operating budget (House Bill 166) — passed and signed last week — created a $172 million “H₂Ohio fund,” aimed at protecting Lake Erie, other state waterways, and community water projects. The fund is a priority of Gov. Mike DeWine, whose administration has begun to form a strategy on how best to administer the dollars, while promising “more public discussions in the next few weeks.”

Approximately $46 million of the fund will be dedicated to wetland restoration to help to prevent nutrient run-off that contributes to algal blooms. The budget requires the Lake Erie Commission to coordinate with state agencies and boards to submit an annual report to the governor and legislature on H₂Ohio spending during the prior fiscal year.

Learn more at the administration’s H₂Ohio website. 7/24/2019