Ohio House advances river restoration resolution

State Reps. Monica Robb Blasdel, R-New Waterford, and Kevin Ritter, R-Marietta, announced the Ohio House of Representatives has adopted House Concurrent Resolution 40, urging Congress to enact the Ohio River Restoration Program Act.

The proposed legislation would establish a federal restoration initiative for the Ohio River Basin, a watershed that includes Carroll County and supports manufacturing, agriculture, shipping, energy production, tourism and municipal infrastructure across Ohio and the Midwest.

Carroll County is part of the Ohio River Basin through waterways that drain into the Tuscarawas, Muskingum and ultimately Ohio rivers. Supporters say the proposed federal program would provide investments to improve drinking water quality, protect public health, restore ecosystems and strengthen local economies throughout the watershed.

More than 25 million Americans, including about two-thirds of Ohio's population, live within the Ohio River Basin. More than 5 million people rely on the watershed as a source of drinking water.

“The Ohio River is a vital resource for Ohio and our region, serving more than 25 million people across 14 states,” Robb Blasdel said. “I am grateful we could come together in a bipartisan way to send a message to Congress to support vital water quality improvements, habitat restoration, invasive species management, flood resilience and expanded recreational access on the waters of the Ohio River Basin."

“The Ohio River Basin is one of the most strategically important economic regions in the United States,” Ritter said. “HCR 40 recognizes that environmental degradation ultimately becomes an economic liability. Communities throughout our state depend upon the long-term health and reliability of this watershed for both economic stability and future growth.”

In 2023, American Rivers designated the Ohio River as the nation's second-most endangered river, citing water quality degradation, harmful algal blooms, toxic contamination, aging infrastructure and flooding events.

According to the resolution's sponsors, HCR 40 demonstrates Ohio's support for preserving and restoring the Ohio River and encourages bipartisan federal action to maintain the river's long-term health and productivity.

The resolution now moves to the Ohio Senate for consideration.