The waterways winding through our corner of the country are getting some attention in Washington, and organizations across the Upper Ohio River Basin have a short window to add their voice.
The Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA) recently wrapped its annual Hill Day in DC, where its board and partner organizations met with more than 35 congressional offices and the U.S. EPA Office of Water to build support for the Ohio River Restoration Program Act. Now ORBA is gathering signatures on a letter of support, and the clock is ticking.
What the Act Would Do
The bipartisan legislation would establish an Ohio River National Program Office within the EPA. The idea is to bring states, local governments, Tribal nations, and nonprofit groups to the same table to improve water quality, restore ecosystems, support navigation, protect public health, expand recreation, and strengthen local economies across the Basin.
The bill was introduced in the House in December 2025, with a companion bill following in the Senate in early 2026. For the communities H2O Water Network serves across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, this is exactly the kind of coordinated, basin-wide framework that can tackle the water challenges no single watershed can solve on its own.
How Partners Can Get Involved
The letter of support closes at 5 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, June 10. ORBA’s latest membership update also highlights a few other opportunities worth a look:
- Ready-to-Go Projects: ORBA is compiling a list of projects primed for implementation when funding becomes available.
- Earth Economics Grant: The Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund offers no-cost analysis for community-based organizations, with applications due June 12.
- #OhioRiverBasinProud: A campaign spotlighting recreation and partner organizations throughout the Basin.
- 2026 ORBA Summit: Save the date for October 14-16 in Columbus, Ohio.
Read the full update and find every link in ORBA’s latest membership newsletter.
