2009 Clean Water Conference: October 2-3.
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Ohio - "Good River"

Ohio’s name comes from the Iroquois word for “good river” and it’s no wonder.

With more than 199,000 miles of waterways and 482,800 acres of wetlands, Ohio is considered a “water-rich” state.

However, our waterways are under duress from sediment, manure, coal mining, wetland destruction, and phosphorus run off. Ohio’s laws do not go far enough in protecting this vital resource for all who call Ohio home.

The OEC has a 40–year history of fighting for Ohio’s land and waterways through legislation, litigation, grassroots action, and community educational programs.

By protecting and restoring our waterways, advocating through legal and legislative action, and educating and mobilizing Ohio’s citizens, the OEC helps ensure that all our “good rivers,” - and lakes, streams, and wetlands - are swimmable, fishable, and enjoyable for all Ohioans.

Eager for more great Ohio water facts? Check out this fact sheet.

OEC Participates in Agency Rule Group

By participating in the Ohio EPA’s 401 Wetland External Advisory Group, OEC fights industry efforts to destroy wetlands, build new ones several counties over, use dated science, and get rid of Ohio EPA protections for wetlands.

Read more of OEC’s recommendations in a letter sent to the Ohio EPA.

To learn more about the rule review process, see www.ohiowetlands.net.

OEC’s Citizen’s Guide to 401’s Available

Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act govern the filling of wetlands. For tips on how to participate in the permitting process and information on what the regulations require the Ohio EPA to consider, take a look at our Citizen’s Guide to 401’s. (PDF)

Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are an invaluable resource. Unfortunately, they face multiple challenges such as foreign counties craving our water, a shoreline off limits to children, and raw sewage making our waters unfishable, unswimmable, and undrinkable. Learn more.

OEC's Clean Water Program is funded by the following supporters:

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation: www.mott.org
The Benua Foundation Field of Interest and the Robert E. Holmes Natural Resources funds of the The Columbus Foundation: www.columbusfoundation.org
The Doll Foundation
The George Gund Foundation: www.gundfdn.org
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network Fund: http://glhabitat.org/
Great Lakes National Program Office: www.epa.gov/glnpo
Healing Our Waters: www.healingourwaters.org
The Joyce Foundation: www.joycefdn.org
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: www.nfwf.org
National Wildlife Federation: www.nwf.org
River Network: www.rivernetwork.org
US EPA: www.epa.gov


And by members like you-thank you.