The Ohio River runs 981 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo, Illinois, supplying drinking water to over five million people, providing habitat for fish and wildlife, and serving as the foundation for the region’s cultural and economic identity. Yet, the Ohio, and the rivers and wetlands that feed it, are facing serious threats such as sewage overflows, mine waste, toxic pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, inadequate water infrastructure, and flooding – and climate change is only exacerbating these problems. The good news is that we have manageable solutions to these serious threats, and these solutions can be implemented now before the problems get worse and more expensive to solve.
To that end, the National Wildlife Federation is collaborating with the Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA) to craft a plan to restore and protect the waters of the 14-state Ohio River Basin. The plan will be delivered to the U.S. Congress and Biden Administration later this year, with the goal of securing federal investments to support on-the-ground restoration work in the region, similar to the successful geographic restoration programs for the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, Delaware River, Florida Everglades, Gulf Coast, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay, and other great waters. While these waterways collectively receive millions of dollars in appropriations each year – and have a proven track record of success to show for it – the Ohio River basin currently does not have a dedicated program to target federal restoration investments.
A Bold Plan to Protect and Restore the Ohio River Basin • The National Wildlife Federation Blog
To that end, the National Wildlife Federation is collaborating with the Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA) to craft a plan to restore and protect the waters of the 14-state Ohio River Basin. The plan will be delivered to the U.S. Congress and Biden Administration later this year, with the goal of securing federal investments to support on-the-ground restoration work in the region, similar to the successful geographic restoration programs for the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, Delaware River, Florida Everglades, Gulf Coast, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay, and other great waters. While these waterways collectively receive millions of dollars in appropriations each year – and have a proven track record of success to show for it – the Ohio River basin currently does not have a dedicated program to target federal restoration investments.
A Bold Plan to Protect and Restore the Ohio River Basin • The National Wildlife Federation Blog