H2Ohio: Partnering with Farmers to Protect Western Lake Erie Basin

Preventing excess nutrients and solids from entering water and wastewater systems is critical to maintaining healthy natural watersheds. As part of ongoing Great Lakes protection efforts, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has opened enrollment into H2Ohio to help producers in Ohio develop and implement best management practices for nutrient and runoff concerns on their land.

Below are two recent updates from H2Ohio about the program. Learn more about H2Ohio’s smart nutrient management practices.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture Announces H2Ohio Open Enrollment in the Western Lake Erie Basin

September 12, 2025

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (September 12, 2025) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Brian Baldridge announced that farmers in 14 counties of the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) are eligible to enroll in Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative beginning September 15, 2025.

Producers in the following northwest Ohio counties are eligible to enroll or re-enroll acreage into proven, science-based, best management practices (BMPs) that contribute toward improving water quality:

Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood.

Farmers must have an up-to-date soil test and develop an approved Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan (VNMP) to enroll into other best management practices being offered in 2026 and 2027. Available BMPs include overwintering cover, subsurface phosphorus placement and manure incorporation and utilization.

“Through H2Ohio, farmers across the state have made incredible progress doing their part in protecting water quality,” said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. “Their work shows what can be achieved when agriculture and conservation move forward together. By keeping this momentum going, farmers are not only strengthening their own operations but also building a healthier environment for the next generation of Ohioans.”

To apply, farmers should contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and provide up-to-date soil tests. Producers who enroll will receive support to develop and implement VNMPs, which encourage better utilization of applied nutrients.

To date, more than 3,200 producers have enrolled 2.2 million acres in H2Ohio across the state. In previous enrollments, producers in the 14-county project area have enrolled 1.2 million acres or more than 46% of cropland acreage in the area.

H2Ohio is Governor DeWine’s statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio’s waters. Launched in 2019, H2Ohio uses a comprehensive approach guided by science and data to reduce algal blooms, stop pollution, and improve access to clean drinking water. H2Ohio’s agricultural program focuses on incentivizing farmers to implement science-based, proven best management practices to prevent nutrient runoff and improve water quality.

Ohio Department of Agriculture Awarded $1 Million to Expand Conservation in Western Lake Erie Basin

August 27, 2025

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (August 27, 2025) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has been awarded a $1 million grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to support a new effort to place conservation agronomists within agricultural retail operations in northwest Ohio.

Conservation agronomists will be employed by agricultural retailers and work with local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff and farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) to implement H2Ohio Best Management Practices (BMPs) that help reduce nutrient runoff. By serving as a critical link between agricultural retailers, producers, and H2Ohio program requirements, the agronomists will provide one-on-one technical assistance, facilitate training events and on-farm demonstrations, and support nutrient planning and BMP adoption.  

“This funding allows us to increase our capacity and offer local, trusted advisors who farmers can turn to for assistance in implementing H2Ohio conservation practices,” said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. “By expanding our reach, we’re supporting farmers on the ground, which will help protect Ohio’s water quality for future generations.”

“This grant is a vital step forward in this Administration’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the Great Lakes and enhancing Ohio’s water quality,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. “By empowering local conservation agronomists, we are bridging the gap between scientific best practices and practical, on-the-ground implementation.”

H2Ohio is Governor Mike DeWine’s statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio’s waters. Launched in 2019, H2Ohio uses a comprehensive approach guided by science and data to reduce algal blooms, stop pollution, and improve access to clean drinking water. H2Ohio’s agricultural program, which initially focused solely on farms located in northwest Ohio near Lake Erie, incentivizes farmers to implement science-based, proven best management practices to prevent nutrient runoff and improve water quality.

For more information on the H2Ohio initiative, visit h2.ohio.gov.

An interview with Director Brian Baldridge can be found here. 

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