The Ohio House of Representatives has proposed slashing H2Ohio funding by $150 million—cutting the program from $270 million down to just $120 million. The budget now moves to the Senate, and we need your voice. Tell your Senator to oppose these harmful cuts and restore full funding for H2Ohio.

H2Ohio funding is vital for improving Grand Lake’s water quality. These funds support the construction of wetlands and critical nutrient management practices like subsurface nutrient placement and planting cover crops. Together, these efforts have successfully reduced toxic microcystin levels in Grand Lake.

Without full funding, this progress could be stalled or reversed, putting public health, recreation, and the local economy at risk.

Take Action: Write to your Senator today and tell them how important it is to fully fund H2Ohio. Below, you’ll find:

  • A sample letter you can personalize
  • Contact information for your District 12 (Auglaize & Mercer Counties) Senator
  • A link to find your Senator if you live outside these counties

Your voice matters—speak up for clean water and a healthier future.

District 12 Senator (Auglaize & Mercer Counties)

Susan Manchester

Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
048

(614) 466-7584

Email

Find Your Senator

If you live outside of District 12, you can locate your senator’s contact information on the Ohio Senate’s homepage (input your address under “Who Represents Me?”)

Sample Letter

Dear Senator,

I am writing to express my deep concern over the proposed $150 million cut to the H2Ohio program in Sub-House Bill 96. I urge you to restore the program to its originally requested funding level of $270 million.

The H2Ohio program is not just a line item in a budget—it is a lifeline for Grand Lake St. Marys. For years, this vital waterbody has battled toxic algal blooms that endanger public health, damage our economy, and degrade the environment. Through H2Ohio, critical wetland construction and agricultural best management practices—including cover crops and subsurface nutrient placement—have taken root across our watershed. These initiatives are already delivering measurable results, including a reduction in harmful microcystin levels in the lake.

We cannot afford to lose momentum.

Without full funding, the progress we’ve made will stall or reverse. Wetland construction may cease. Farmers may lose incentives to implement proven nutrient-reduction practices. And Grand Lake St. Marys could once again slide backward, risking the health, jobs, and economic vitality of our region.

Grand Lake St. Marys is more than just a lake. It is a wildlife sanctuary, a recreational hub, and an economic engine that generates millions of dollars in tax revenue annually. It supports local businesses, boosts tourism, and provides cherished quality-of-life opportunities for Ohioans of all ages.

Our message is simple: Investing in clean water is investing in Ohio’s future.

I respectfully urge you to reject the proposed funding cut and instead honor the DeWine Administration’s request to fully fund the H2Ohio program at $270 million. Doing so will sustain and expand the vital work already underway—not just in our watershed, but across the entire state.

Thank you for your service and for your commitment to protecting Ohio’s water resources.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]