H2Ohio Statewide Wetland Grant Program

The H2Ohio Statewide Wetland Grant Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), is a reimbursement-based initiative aimed at enhancing water quality and reducing nutrient runoff across the State of Ohio. This grant supports high-quality, natural infrastructure projects that directly contribute to wetland creation, restoration, or other forms of hydrologic or ecological enhancement that improve surface water conditions. Funded by Ohio’s broader H2Ohio environmental initiative, this program provides up to 100 percent of project costs, with no minimum or maximum funding limits. Projects must demonstrate a justified budget aligned with water quality improvement goals. Eligible projects include wetland creation, hydrologic restoration of wetlands and floodplains, stream and riparian buffer restoration, green infrastructure, stormwater retention, and acid mine drainage abatement. Property acquisition is also permitted if it is directly tied to a water-quality outcome. Notably, the program is structured to distinguish between general statewide applications and projects located in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) watershed. Projects in the WLEB region — including counties such as Lucas, Wood, Sandusky, Ottawa, and surrounding jurisdictions shown in the program’s map — are handled through a separate rolling application framework. Applicants in these counties are instructed to contact ODNR staff before submitting a standard application, as their projects may be more appropriately routed through the region-specific H2Ohio funding stream. Outside the WLEB area, applications to the statewide wetland grant program are accepted through competitive cycles, although exact deadlines are not provided in the source text. All projects must align with the broader goals of the H2Ohio program, particularly those targeting nutrient reduction and ecological restoration. For inquiries or pre-submission guidance, applicants are encouraged to contact Rachel DeNoewer at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources via phone at (614) 705-9978 or email at H2Ohio@dnr.ohio.gov.

Applicants in northwest Ohio should contact ODNR before applying to confirm appropriate funding stream; strongly recommended to tailor project scope to nutrient reduction and water quality improvements.