COLUMBUS, Ohio — Four different Ohio organizations have received grants from the Ohio EPA in order to support various environmental projects related to wetland education, water quality, biodiversity and more, according to an EPA press release.

What You Need To Know

  • Four different Ohio organizations have received grants from the Ohio EPA “to support projects involving wetland education, water quality and biodiversity, habitat restoration, and home drinking water and septic system maintenance”

  • The Ohio Wetlands Association is getting $5,000

  • The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District in Franklin County is being awarded $4,999

  • Finally, the Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District in Ashland, Holmes and Knox counties is being awarded $4,632

The Ohio Wetlands Association is getting $5,000 for wetlands training, focusing on “county soil and water conservation districts” as well as “metropark education specialists and naturalists.” They will also be buying three EnviroScape wetland models.

The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District in Franklin County is being awarded $4,999 “for low-income and underrepresented minority students to participate in a workforce development internship” that focuses both on environmental literacy regarding watersheds and water quality.

“Students from Lead the Way Learning Academy will learn to identify macroinvertebrate specimens to determine the health and quality of a river or stream system,” the release reads. “They will use field-based biological assessments and scientific tools as an introduction to environmental science careers.”

An award of $4,910 is going toward the Western Wildlife Corrdinor, Inc., in Hamilton County for the purpose of providing public education on invasive plants and best practices for protecting biodiversity at home.

“The organization is planning 10 events including information and instruction from conservation biology experts and scientists to be able to identify the common invasive plant species in southwest Ohio,” the release reads. “Participants will get hands-on experience removing and controlling invasive plant species.”

Finally, the Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District in Ashland, Holmes and Knox counties is being awarded $4,632 to provide an “educational outreach event in the Loudonville area.”

“Homeowners will receive information and resources on both drinking water, well and septic system installation and maintenance and the effects on water quality,” the release reads. “At the event, homeowners will be able to have their well water tested for nitrates and nitrites. In Ohio EPA’s latest large river study, failing septic systems were identified as a significant factor affecting water quality in the Mohican River watershed.”

The release concludes by noting that the deadline for the next grant application is July 15, with these awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 and general grants up to $50,000.