Ohio River Restoration Program Act

Key Points

• This bill creates a new Ohio River National Program Office within the EPA to manage a large-scale restoration effort covering parts of 15 states. A Program Director would coordinate federal actions, develop plans, and work with state, local, and Tribal governments.
• The program authorizes $350 million per year for five years (2026-2030), totaling $1.75 billion to fund water quality improvements, toxic substance cleanup, invasive species control, habitat restoration, and public recreation access.
• Projects must prioritize natural solutions over man-made infrastructure. This includes restoring wetlands, removing old dams, and fixing culverts to let rivers flow more naturally and reduce flooding, rather than relying on expensive concrete structures.
• An advisory council will help select projects, with representation from every state in the basin, Tribal governments, and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission. Projects must be spread fairly across the entire basin.
• The Program Director must create measurable goals within one year and an action plan within two years, with updates every five years. Annual reports to Congress and the public will track spending and progress.