New H2Ohio incentive program offered to farmers

COLUMBUS — As part of Gov. Mike DeWine's H2Ohio initiative, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is offering a new incentive program to encourage farmers to aid in conservation and improve water quality, according to an ODNR news release. ODNR plans to accept applications for its Water Quality Incentive Program Dec. 1-Jan. 29. The new program is being offered in combination with the Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which is a USDA conservation program that offers farmers and landowners financial compensation for taking cropland out of production and establishing conservation practices. The H2Ohio Water Quality Incentive Program is to offer a one-time payment of $2,000 per acre for new Lake Erie CREP wetlands and forested riparian buffers (buffer strips with trees) to help improve water quality in the Lake Erie watershed. Wetlands and riparian buffers act as filters to reduce nutrient loading into waterways and help reduce flooding. Riparian buffers also stabilize streambanks to reduce soil erosion. To qualify for WQIP, farmers and landowners must be eligible for CREP and submit an H2Ohio WQIP application during the sign-up period prior to their CREP contract approval. Applicants do not have to sign up for CREP prior to apply for WQIP. However, if the applicant is approved for the WQIP, an approved CREP contract will be required to receive the WQIP payment. Applications will be scored and selected based on criteria to prioritize the best projects to improve water quality. The new incentive program is one of several H2Ohio efforts underway by ODNR including Forder Bridge Project in Paulding County, Fruth Wetland Nature Preserve in Seneca County, St. Joseph Confluence Reconnection in Williams County, Van Order Wetland and Forest Restoration in Henry County, and a wetland area east of the Andreoff Wildlife Area in Wyandot County. H2Ohio is the governor's initiative to ensure safe and clean water in Ohio, the release said. It is a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality over the long term. H2Ohio focuses on encouraging agricultural best management practices, restoring, and enhancing wetlands, and replacing home septic systems to reduce nutrients that contribute to harmful algal blooms. For more information on the H2Ohio initiative, visit h2.ohio.gov. For information on the Lake Erie CREP Wetlands program, Seneca County farmers and landowners should contact Christina Kuchle, (419) 348-5073, christina.kuchle@dnr.ohio.gov. For more information on the Lake Erie CREP Riparian Buffers program, farmers and landowners should contact Sam Kaiser, (614) 420-6496, samuel.kaiser@dnr.ohio.gov.