October is Clean Water Month in Ohio, and it couldnt come in a better season. Crisp, sunny days filled with autumn color make this the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy Ohio's abundant water resources - from our Great Lake Erie, to the mighty Ohio River, and to the thousands of miles of rivers and streams between.
It is particularly fitting to celebrate Ohios many clean, beautiful streams this October, which marks the 30th anniversary of the federal Clean Water Act. Thirty years ago, Lake Erie had been declared dead, the Cuyahoga River had burned (several times) and waterways throughout Ohio were choked with industrial wastes, agricultural runoff and sewage. Today, those problems have been dramatically reduced. Lake Erie now supports a world-class fishery, while the banks of the Cuyahoga have become a tourist destination. To be sure, challenges remain, but they are being actively addressed on many fronts.
Remarkable progress has been achieved through the concerted effort of many - from municipal governments that have cleaned up their sewage treatment plants, to industries that have reduced toxic releases, to farmers who are controlling erosion and using less fertilizer. And Ohio's state government has taken a leadership role. Indeed, for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio EPA, every month is Clean Water Month. Our efforts to protect Ohios waterways include:
The Lake Erie Protection and Restoration Plan, issued in 2000, provides a long-range strategic blueprint for continued improvements to Ohios Great Lake.
The Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), introduced in the spring of 2000, is providing $201 million in state and federal funds to protect 5,000 miles of streams in the lake's watershed by reducing erosion and runoff problems in the Lake Erie basin. A similar program was launched this past spring to protect the Big Walnut watershed near Columbus, and helping to safeguard the citys drinking water supply.
As chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, Governor Bob Taft is directing the Great Lakes Priorities Project, an ambitious plan to secure federal support for restoration of all the Great Lakes.
Ohio EPAs Water Resources Restoration Sponsorship Program, the first of its kind, is providing incentives to communities to support conservation projects. To date, more than $23 million has been donated to protect sensitive waterways.
Ohio EPA has the nations oldest and most extensive aquatic life monitoring program. Evaluating the health of streams by studying their aquatic life and its habitat provides a scientifically sound way to measure problems and devise solutions. Currently underway is a program to study every impaired stream in the state and work with local partners toward restoration.
The Ohio Water Resources Council is pursuing a four-year strategic action plan for state agencies and their partners to ensure that water resources are wisely used and protected.
With the recent addition of 22 miles of the Upper Chagrin River in Geauga and Cuyahoga counties, Ohio now protects 11 waterways with State Scenic River designation, helping ensure they remain as unspoiled environmental and recreational resources.
The state is making record investments ($10 million in 2001 alone) to restore abandoned mine lands and reduce acid mine drainage, the most pressing water quality challenge in southeast Ohio. Meanwhile, state laws and procedures have been strengthened to ensure that Ohio's forestry and industrial minerals industries protect water resources.
Our Clean Ohio Fund initiative is providing $50 million a year for conservation projects throughout the state. With these funds, Ohio communities are pursuing local priorities such as preserving valuable wetlands, restoring stream banks, and creating recreational trails.
Ohio's beauty, our economy and the quality of life we all enjoy are inextricably linked to the quality of our state's water resources. During Clean Water Month, we urge Ohioans to enjoy the plentiful recreational opportunities our waterways provide, and to make a personal commitment to support our continuing efforts to preserve and protect Ohios lakes and streams.