DeWine Bolsters Lake Erie Cleanup with $9.9M Ohio Funding Boost

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Controlling Board approved the release of $9.9 million from the Healthy Lake Erie Fund on Monday, directing funds to Lucas, Lorain, and Ashtabula counties for dredge material management projects. This move advances state goals to eliminate all open-lake dumping by 2020, addressing toxic algal blooms that have plagued Lake Erie for years. Of the total, $4 million targets construction of a Black River dredge facility in Lorain, a project championed by Rep. Dan Ramos (D-Lorain).[1] The funding ties into Governor Mike DeWine's H2Ohio clean water initiative, launched seven years ago, which has completed over 140 projects restoring 15,000 acres of wetlands for nutrient reduction in the Lake Erie watershed. Coordinated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Natural Resources, H2Ohio recently announced 150 new projects statewide, including $2,000-per-acre incentives through the Water Quality Incentive Program.[3][5] Despite recent budget cuts under House Bill 96—slashing about 40% of H2Ohio funds for 2026-2027—DeWine is pushing a November bond issue to secure long-term financing, following a prior $270 million request.[2] Northern Ohio communities, from Toledo's Maumee Bay to Lorain's industrial shores, stand to benefit most. The Black River facility will process dredged sediments, preventing their release into Lake Erie and protecting drinking water for millions. Lawmakers like Ramos emphasize preservation of local waterways amid ongoing challenges from agriculture runoff and urban pollution.[1][4]