H2Ohio: Navigating the Waters of Opportunity and Challenge

Breakout session on Tuesday, February 11, at 2:45 p.m.

H2Ohio addresses urgent water quality problems, such as algal blooms from agricultural runoff. Starting in 2020, H2Ohio has encountered challenges in contract management and efficient program delivery. With more than $60 million in annual support, the initiative works with local SWCDs to implement BMPs across 1.8 million acres, which creates opportunity and trials along the way.

Speakers: Terry Mescher and Kip Studer, Ohio Department of Agriculture

1. Navigating the Waters of Opportunity & Challenge Terry Mescher H2Ohio Program Manager Kip Studer Conservation Program Manager February 11, 2025

2. H2Ohio Goals & Challenges Goals Reduce phosphorus runoff from commercial fertilizer and manure to prevent harmful algal blooms Incentivize farmers to implement proven, scientific best management practices (BMPs) on their cropland   Challenges Phosphorus runoff is a large contributor to harmful algal blooms. ODA is tasked with reducing the load reduction by 40% in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) by 2025 Manure is the second major source of phosphorus in the WLEB behind commercial fertilizer

3. History of Nutrient Management and Water Quality Concerns Lake Erie – Cuyahoga River Ohio River Buckeye Lake Western Lake Erie Basin Grand Lake St. Marys

4. Grand Lake St. Marys Located in Mercer & Auglaize Counties Watershed Approx 48,000 Acres in Size Primary land use – Row crop agriculture High livestock concentration in watershed as well July 2010 Covered entire lake – 12,500 acres Putrid Odor Drinking Water supply for City of Celina

5. Western Lake Erie Basin 4.2M Ac. within Ohio 7M Ac. across Tri-State Area 80% Cropland Toledo Water Crisis – August 2014 ½ Million Customers without water for several days Many Significant Blooms in the last decade – 2011 & 2015

6. Historical Programs & Challenges GLSM Distressed Watershed Rules Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans for all farms ~ 150 Plans No Winter Spreading Addressing HQ Concerns WLEB WLEB & LE Nutrient Reduction Program (NRP) – 2012 -2014 H.B. 150 & S.B. 1 – Manure Application Rules – VNMP – Fert. Cert. – 2014 & 2016 GLRI-NRP – 2014-2018 Soil & Water Phosphorus Program – 2018-2019 Education Addressing Cultural Norms Low Participation in Conservation Practices

7. New Opportunities Enrollment Started February 2020 – Paused for COVID - H2Ohio program delivery began in the Maumee River Watershed in 2021 – 1.1 Million Acres Enrolled – 14 Counties – 3 Year Contracts Western Lake Erie Basin Expansion – Enrollment began July of 2022 – Another 600,000 Acres enrolled – Additional 10 Counties – 3 Year Contracts Reduce nutrient losses through improved nutrient management, reduced soil erosion, and better water management practices

8. Current WLEB Project Area Managing 2,400 Contracts across 24 SWCDs in the Maumee and WLEB Project Acres Currently about 40% of the cropland is developing and implementing a Voluntary Nutrient management Plan through H2Ohio

9. Statewide Enrollment Period In 2024 ODA began offering H2Ohio incentives to producers who farm outside of the Western Lake Erie Basin ODA had funding to enroll 500,000 acres across the remainder of the state Active H2Ohio Region vs Counties Eligible for Expansion Counties Eligible for 2024 Expansion Original H2Ohio Region

10. Statewide Enrollment Results 507,283 Counties with Producers Enrolled additional acres enrolled 525 additional producers 51 additional counties

11. H2Ohio Enrollment 2.2 Million total acres enrolled in H2Ohio pending final contracting More than 3,200 producers enrolled More than 18,000 acres of watershed improved by conservation ditch projects Acres Enrolled 1.4 Million 1.85 Million 2.2 Million

12. New Challenges

13. Staffing & Training Maumee & WLEB – one full-time H2Ohio staff person Multi-County - Nutrient Management Positions Technical Assistance based on formula completed practices and contracts Statewide – Technical Assistance dollars and Ag Assistance Grants Continuous Training through Technician Development Program Office Hours, Teams Meetings, One-on-One Trainings

14. Education & Outreach Relationship with the SWCD Relationships with the Ag Retailers Provide Ag Retailer specific Trainings Allow Ag Retailers to help us promote the program Technical Assistance Reimbursement Program (TARP) Relationships with the Producers Consistent Message from both ODA & SWCD Social Media & Traditional Outreach Methods

15. Efficient Delivery Started most of how we had delivered past programs ODA Staff – 3 FTE – Currently 10 FTE SWCD – 24 Additional staff members in WLEB 1-5 people in each SWCD working most of their time on H2Ohio Paper Contracts to everything electronic contracts and signatures Continuing to receive feedback and make improvements SWCD provide terrific feedback Single program offered by 88 different SWCDs

16. Contract & Practice Tracking ODA has contracted with MyFarms to develop software to support enrollment, practice certification, and contract management MyFarms incorporates program logic into VNMP development, practice enrollment, and practice certification processes Allows VNMP developer to connect to producer’s existing data and import data directly Transfers data into our existing BMP tracking software Beehive through an API

17. MyFarms VNMP Development & Contracts MyFarms VNMP development process results in a NRCS 590 compliant plan – Including CNMPs Plans and practices are tracked at the field level and can assess 590 requirements at the field level MyFarms platform allows SWCD staff, producers, Ag Retailers, and Private Consultants to contribute to plan development concurrently

18. Conservation Ditch Program Eligible Practices Two-Stage Ditch Design Self Forming Channel Design Enrolled through SWCD or Co. Engineer Must be placed on County Ditch Maintenance More than 18,000 acres of watershed improved by conservation ditch projects

19. Other H2Ohio Efforts Farm Phosphorus Program Working Lands Buffer Drainage Water Management Equipment Purchase Assistance Program Pilot Watershed (w/OSU)

20. Thank You! Terry Mescher H2Ohio Program Manager [email protected] Kip Studer Conservation Program Manager [email protected]