Ohio’s water is one of its most valuable resources—critical for the state’s health, environment, and economy. From reducing toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie to improving aging sewer and pipe systems and addressing polluted runoff, the challenges are significant and the stakes are immense. H2Ohio—a bipartisan clean water initiative launched in 2019—has made clear progress through collaboration with farmers, conservationists, and local governments. The program’s efforts have included protecting wetlands, supporting land conservation, and upgrading infrastructure. But a budget reduction this year to the initiative of nearly 40% could slow or scale back some of these projects, prompting discussion among policymakers, environmental groups, and community leaders about the best path forward. What’s at stake isn’t just clean water—it’s Ohio’s health, environment, and long-term economic future.
Featuring Dontavius Jarrells, Representative, 1st District, Ohio House of Representatives, Paula Powell, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company; Adam Sharp, Executive Vice President, The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation; Bill Stanley, State Director, The Nature Conservancy in Ohio, with moderator Carol Kauffman, CEO, Ohio Environmental Council.
Interested in learning more and getting involved?
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District shared this regional resource for getting involved or learning more about resources to protect or improve water quality: www.bethechangeforcleanwater.org.
You can sign up to receive a volunteer newsletter, to stay up to date on volunteer happenings with watershed and conservation organizations locally: https://www.franklinswcd.org/volunteer-opportunities
If you would like to dive more deeply into today’s topic, the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest checking out The Last Drop: Solving the World’s Water Crisis by Tim Smedley, 2023.
