Federal Investment Needed to Protect and Restore the Ohio River

30 million people in 14 states, from New York to Mississippi, are connected by the great Ohio River watershed – the primary drinking water source of over 5 million people. The Ohio River is a vital natural resourcethe backbone of the environment, the economy, the culture, and the history for the communities that live along the mainstream and throughout the region.

But the upper river in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and eastern Kentucky drains from areas affected by environmental pollution due to a legacy of heavy industrialization. This legacy includes mining and resource extraction for energy development, chemical production, and durable goods manufacturing. These forms of industrialization have resulted in significant discharges of toxic chemicals, including both legacy chemicals (such as mercury and dioxins) and chemicals of emerging concern (especially PFAS and Gen-X chemicals) as well as acid mine drainage. This pollution threatens human and ecosystem health.

A lack of federal investment leaves the Ohio River watershed – and, by extension, the surrounding communities – vulnerable. The recent chemical release from the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio resulted in harmful air pollution and hazardous butyl acrylate leaked into the Ohio River. This chemical disaster has damaged the community’s health and way of life, leaving the future of this entire village uncertain. The chemical release in East Palestine serves as a warning: immediate federal investment is needed to protect the future of communities and health throughout the Ohio River watershed.

The federal government substantially invests in restoring great waters every year. Many water systems, such as the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound, receive substantial targeted funding to address serious threats. The Ohio River Basin does not. The good news is that people are coming together from around the region with the goal of adding the Ohio River to the list of federally restored water systems. Led by voices from communities all along the river, the Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA), is developing a plan that is expected to be released this summer to highlight the problems and solutions that communities have identified that need to be prioritized. It will be essential for members of Congress to support and fund this plan before the problems get worse and more expensive to solve.

To protect the health and wellbeing of Ohio River Basin communities, Congress must follow ORBA’s lead and act to add the Ohio River to the list of our nation’s great water systems that receive significant, sustained federal funding each year.

These investments will provide local communities with the tools needed to ensure the Ohio River endures as a vital and abundant resource for the region.

By clicking "Send Email," you have read and agreer to abide by American Rivers’ Privacy Policy, and consent to your personal information being shared with our partner the Ohio Environmental Council, and agree to https://theoec.org/policies/.

About You

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Address

City

State

Zip Code

Personalize Your Letter

Dear {contact_data~title}{contact_data~lastName},

We call on you to add the Ohio River to the list of our nation’s great waters that receive sustained, substantial annual funding for initiatives to protect and restore the river.

The Ohio River watershed covers more than 200,000 square miles and provides drinking water for five million people. Its water was a gateway to freedom for those once enslaved south of the river-if you could cross the Ohio River, you had reached freedom. The river remains a significant historic site. In addition to its cultural and historic importance, the river provides critical habitat for 150 species of fish and the watershed protects endangered species such as the candy and diamond darter, several species of mussels, and crayfish. The streams, tributaries and main stem of the Ohio River connect communities across the region by providing opportunities for recreation, economic development and small town growth.

And yet, this vital resource is at risk.

This risk has been recently exemplified by the chemical release in East Palestine resulting from a Norfolk Southern train derailment. The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) tracked a plume of leaked butyl acrylate in real time as it made its way downriver. In coordination with local and state emergency response officials and environmental agencies, ORSANCO stepped up to the plate as the agency most equipped to safeguard drinking water through monitoring and technical expertise. Unfortunately, ORSANCO is operating its staff and systems—including the organics detection system currently being used to navigate the East Palestine tragedy—on the same federal appropriation formula from 1972. More robust, sustained funding is needed to ensure ORSANCO’s equipment, staff capacity and technical expertise are available for baseline river monitoring and immediate testing if disaster strikes.

The chemical release in East Palestine is just the latest example of the Ohio River’s vulnerability. Ongoing discharges from industries and agriculture remain a challenge as a decades-long effort to improve and sustain the river system continues. Despite measurable progress, two thirds of the river is listed as impaired for bacteria under the Clean Water Act. High levels of nutrients present in the river results in the formation of toxic algae blooms. The Ohio River meets some US EPA water quality standards. However, the cumulative impact of these forms of pollution threatens drinking water, ecosystems and public health.

Federal investment is needed to ensure this vital resource is healthy and available for generations to come.

The Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA), a multi-state effort in partnership with hundreds of stakeholders across the region, is drafting a basin-wide restoration plan that will be delivered to congress later this year. The Ohio River Restoration Plan is a collaborative effort modeled after successful restoration projects such as the Federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This “blueprint” presents goals, objectives and actions for general improvements to safeguard drinking water, support the ecological well-being of the river, and invest in quality of life for communities throughout the watershed. Sustained and significant financial support for both ORBA’s Restoration Plan and ORSANCO’s technical upgrades and capacity are needed to protect the communities, environment and culture in the Ohio River Basin.

I call on Members of Congress from across the Ohio River Basin, and beyond, to support ORBA’s plan to add the Ohio River to the list of our nations’ great waters that receive substantial, sustained federal funding each year to support the river’s recovery, protection, and future value.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}
{user_data~Address}
{user_data~City}, {user_data~State}
{user_data~Zip Code}
{user_data~Email Address}