Ohio River Foundation (ORF) has been awarded a $1.4 million grant from the H2Ohio Program of the State of Ohio to manage the creation of a 30-acre complex of wetlands along the Scioto River in Pickaway County, Ohio.
Wetlands function like kidneys for the planet. They provide critical habitat that reduce nutrient and sediment pollution in waterways and flooding by creating additional floodplain stormwater storage. Wetlands also provide key habitat for fish and wildlife species, and a stable stream bed that is important for freshwater mussels and small fish survival.
The property for this project is owned by Chris Mullins. “We applaud the landowner, Mr. Mullins, for having the vision and ambition these integral river protection and restoration projects require. Creating and restoring wetlands is crucial to environmental and public health,” said Executive Director of Ohio River Foundation, Rich Cogen. “At ORF, we’ve created a straightforward process to help landowners and communities raise the necessary funds to achieve the social, environmental, and economic benefits of barrier removal. We hope this project will encourage other landowners to take similar action.”
The Ohio River watershed is increasingly being inundated with nutrient loads far in excess of what can be used by aquatic species and needed for good ecosystem health. The result is the production of algal blooms that reduce the available oxygen in water that threatens the survival of aquatic species and contaminates drinking water sources. This is important as more than 1 million people rely on the Scioto River as a source of drinking water.
The creation and restoration of wetlands is of paramount importance. More than half of all wetlands in the lower 48 states have been destroyed over the past two centuries. In Ohio, over 90% of the original wetlands have been eliminated. A March 2024 report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed that wetland loss rates have increased by 50% since 2009.
While the future for wetlands looks bleak, this constructed wetland is a step in the right direction. Furthermore, because this wetland will not be isolated from the river but have a continuous open channel connecting it to the Scioto River, it will be protected under state and federal law despite protection rollbacks from the U.S. Supreme Court and a proposed regulation from the U.S.E.P.A.