PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — The Ohio River Foundation has received a $1.4 million grant from the state’s H2Ohio Program to construct a 30-acre wetland complex along the Scioto River, officials announced Thursday.
The project, located on property owned by Chris Mullins, aims to improve water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and reduce flooding through natural stormwater storage. Wetlands act as natural “kidneys” for waterways, filtering nutrients and sediment, stabilizing stream beds, and supporting fish, mussels, and other aquatic species.
“We applaud the landowner, Mr. Mullins, for having the vision and ambition these integral river protection and restoration projects require,” said Rich Cogen, executive director of the Ohio River Foundation. “Creating and restoring wetlands is crucial to environmental and public health.”
Ohio’s waterways, including the Scioto River, have been increasingly impacted by commercial industries across the region.
Wetlands have been rapidly disappearing nationwide. More than half of all wetlands in the contiguous U.S. have been lost over the past two centuries, with Ohio losing more than 90% of its original wetlands. A 2024 report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that wetland loss rates have increased by 50% since 2009.
Unlike some isolated wetlands, the new Pickaway County wetland will be connected to the Scioto River via an open channel, offering additional protections under state and federal law despite recent rollbacks in federal wetland protections.
The Ohio River Foundation said it hopes the project will encourage other landowners to participate in similar environmental restoration efforts, emphasizing both ecological and economic benefits.