CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Ross County Board of Commissioners has formally passed a resolution opposing the designation of county waterways and tributaries as an Ohio Scenic River, citing concerns from farmers and property owners over private land rights.
The resolution, adopted at the board’s Oct. 13 regular meeting and entered into the record at its Oct. 26 session, states that past efforts to designate all Ross County waterways and tributaries under the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Scenic Rivers Program have drawn “substantial opposition from local residents, agricultural interests, and affected property owners.”
Commissioners said those residents raised concerns about private property rights, the impact on existing agricultural operations and potential restrictions on land and water uses along designated waterways.
The board said ODNR has previously studied and recommended portions of Ross County’s waterways and tributaries for scenic river designation. While Ohio law includes protections for private land uses associated with the designation, it also creates additional review requirements for certain public infrastructure projects and watercourse modifications, according to the resolution.
The resolution formally opposes the designation and urges the governor, the Ohio General Assembly and state agencies to consider the concerns of local governments, property owners, farmers, businesses and water users before implementing or expanding any Scenic Waterways designation in the county.
Commissioners also asked that, before any designation moves forward, ODNR provide clear notice of proposed actions, offer meaningful consultation with affected landowners and local governments, and assess potential impacts on agriculture, infrastructure, economic development and local governmental authority.
At the same Oct. 13 meeting, commissioners separately approved a resolution authorizing a two-year extension of the county’s lease with Adena Health System for property used by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, a lease that has been in place since January 2023. The board also proclaimed Oct. 13 in honor of Ross County Community Action’s 60th anniversary, recognizing the nonprofit’s work assisting county residents facing economic hardship since 1966.
In other business at the Oct. 26 meeting, commissioners authorized a $351,847 disbursement for an Ohio Public Works Commission-funded infrastructure project that the county said is about 57% complete, and heard an update from the county’s Re-entry Coalition, which requested $50,000 in the 2027 county budget to continue its programming.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Ross County Board of Commissioners.
