We need your ideas and input! Join us on Tuesday, August 23rd from 2 – 3:30PM Eastern for a listening session to discuss conservation and clean water priorities for a new restoration and protection plan for the Ohio River basin. The plan, once complete, will be delivered to the U.S. Congress. The goal is for the federal government to implement the plan with substantial new annual investments to address long-standing problems, such as sewage contamination, toxic pollution, run-off, flooding, and habitat loss.

This listening session is sponsored by the Ohio River Basin Alliance, National Wildlife Federation, the Miami Conservancy District, and the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission to ensure that the clean water priorities of Ohio and the Great Miami River Watershed are included in the plan. Join us via Zoom on Tuesday, August 23 from 2-3:30 p.m. EDT to make sure your voice is heard. Help set priorities to clean up and restore the Ohio River, its tributaries including the Great Miami River Watershed, and surrounding habitats.

We have a once-in-a-generation to stand up for the Ohio River ecosystem, our drinking water, public health, and quality of life. Please join us.

What river issues are you most concerned about in your community and in Ohio?

Are there problems with clean drinking water in your community or region? Would you like to see more done to address problems like flooding, toxic pollution, sewage contamination, and mine waste?

What solutions should be prioritized?

More information: https://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/ORBA/

With input and support from community members and partners, the Ohio River Basin Alliance and the National Wildlife Federation are overseeing a process to craft a plan to protect and restore the Ohio River, its tributaries, wetlands, and surrounding habitats in the 14-state region that includes Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

We want to make sure the plan is bold and visionary—an action plan that represents the priorities of the people and communities in the region. The restoration plan will address serious threats to fish, wildlife, and people, including problems such as sewage contamination, mining waste, polluted runoff, and toxic pollution. The plan will also seek to reverse environmental injustices, including inadequate water sanitation services, unaffordable drinking water, and flooding concerns.

The regional restoration plan will be delivered to the U.S. Congress in 2023, with the goal of securing new federal investments to implement the plan and to provide clean, safe, and affordable water to every person in the region.

Community input is vital to the plan. We are hosting a series of listening sessions to get input on the plan from local community residents, advocates, and organizations, so that local priorities can be reflected in the plan.

We want to make sure that the plan tackles the most pressing threats and delivers for the people most impacted by pollution and environmental harm.

Join the call and have your voice heard. During the 1.5-hour call, you will hear about the restoration planning process and have the opportunity to provide input into the regional plan.

If you cannot attend this meeting but would like to get involved, please visit our Eventbrite profile for additional engagement opportunities. Listening sessions will be held virtually and in-person throughout the summer. If you have any questions, please contact Jordan Lubetkin at lubetkin@nwf.org or Carolyn Bidó at bidoc@nwf.org.