Last week, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the Ohio River Ohio River Basin Restoration and Protection Plan Restoration Program Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at improving water quality, ecological health, and community resilience throughout the Ohio River Basin.
The legislation would establish an Ohio River National Program Office within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This office would coordinate states, local governments, Tribal nations, and nonprofit organizations to support restoration and protection efforts that directly benefit communities across the basin.
For regions like southwestern Pennsylvania—where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River—this proposal reflects the reality that local water challenges are inseparable from basin-wide solutions. That systems-based approach aligns closely with the work of H2O Water Network, which focuses on collaboration, shared learning, and community-driven water solutions.
Documented Water Quality Challenges
In 2021, scientists from the University of Pittsburgh’s Water Collaboratory and Three Rivers Waterkeeper collected 100 water samples from tributaries feeding Pittsburgh’s three rivers. Their findings identified consistent signs of pollution, including “concerning” manganese levels in Monongahela tributaries, elevated iron concentrations, and high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Excess nutrients can trigger algal blooms, reduce oxygen levels, increase acidity, and harm aquatic life—demonstrating the ongoing need for coordinated restoration efforts.
What the Act Would Support
Through the EPA, the Ohio River Restoration Program Act would advance:
- Habitat restoration, farm conservation, and invasive species management
- Pollution prevention and clean water protection
- Basin-wide monitoring, data collection, and evaluation
- Workforce development and job training linked to water restoration
- Local public engagement to ensure community participation and accountability
- Investments to prepare for extreme storms and flooding
- Targeted support for communities most impacted by pollution
Why This Matters for H2O Water Network and the Region
H2O Water Network brings together water utilities, community organizations, researchers, and advocates to strengthen water decision-making across the region. The Ohio River Restoration Program Act reflects that same collaborative model at a national level—recognizing that healthy waters, healthy communities, and strong local economies are deeply connected.
With endorsements from organizations working across the basin, this legislation signals growing momentum toward coordinated, science-based, and community-centered river restoration—an approach that could meaningfully strengthen water protection efforts throughout southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.
The full text of the Ohio River Restoration Program Act is available online.
The Ohio River Restoration Program Act is endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation, Ohio River Basin Alliance, Ohio River Way, American Rivers, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Appalachian Voices, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, West Virginia Rivers Coalition Inc., Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Kentucky Resources Council, Inc, River Fields, River City Paddle Sports, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Upstream Pittsburgh, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund, Virginia Conservation Network, Three Rivers Waterkeeper, PennFuture, Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Ohio Conservation Federation, Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN), Kentucky Riverkeeper, Friends of Bell Smith Springs, Prairie Rivers Network, Ohio River Foundation and Kentucky Conservation Committee.
