We continue our float down the Ohio River this week on Sustainability Now!, as your host, Justin Mog, paddles along with three guests who are all actively involved in advocating for the passage of the Ohio River Restoration Program Act (H.R. 5966): Forest Clevenger, Executive Director of The Ohio River Way (https://ohioriverway.org); Michael Washburn, Executive Director of the Kentucky Waterways Alliance (https://kwalliance.org); and David Wicks, Board Chair of River City Paddle Sports (https://rivercitypaddlesports.org)

The Ohio River Basin, spanning 55 congressional districts across 15 states, is the nation’s largest body of water to receive no dedicated federal funding. In mid-November, Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) led introduction of the Ohio River Restoration Program Act with Reps. Erin Houchin (IN-09), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Mike Rulli (OH-06), and Mark Messmer (IN-08) to fund the economic and environmental restoration of the Ohio River.

The bipartisan coalition of Members represents districts throughout the Ohio River Basin, which serves as a source of drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, and its ecosystem is vital to local economies and industries, generating more than 500,000 jobs and $21 billion in wages.

Nationwide, more than a third of the United States’ waterborne commerce travels through the Ohio River – $43 billion in commodities annually – yet the Ohio River is still the nation’s largest body of water without any dedicated federal funding. The bill would dedicate up to $350 million in federal investments to the large-scale restoration of the Ohio River Basin, using initiatives similar to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which resulted in more than $3 in return on every federal dollar invested in the program.

The Ohio River Restoration Program Act would create a federal office within the Environmental Protection Agency to guide a restoration plan in coordination with states, local governments, interstate compact agencies, tribal nations, and non-governmental organizations that includes:
• habitat restoration, farm conservation, and invasive species control and management;
• pollution prevention and clean water protection;
• robust monitoring, data collection, and evaluation;
• local workforce development and training for jobs in water protection and restoration;
• input from the local public to hold elected officials accountable and ensure that residents have a seat at the table in restoration decisions;
• guaranteed clean, safe, and affordable water for local homeowners regardless of economic status; and
• investments in local communities at particular risk of extreme storms, flooding, and pollution.

Learn more:
Ohio River Basin Restoration & Protection Report: A Case Statement for the Need for Federal Investments in the Basin: https://www.ohioriverbasinalliance.org/restoration-plan
Kentucky-Ohio River Regional Recreation Authority (KORRRA): https://www.ohioriverway.org/news/passage-of-korra
National Wildlife Federation – Ohio River Restoration: https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Waters/Ohio-River
Ohio River Basin Alliance – Restoration Planning: https://www.ohioriverbasinalliance.org/restoration-plan
Ohio River Way Challenge: https://www.ohioriverway.org/ohio-river-way-challenge

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com