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Help protect Ohio's fragile wetlands and streams
Wetlands are precious resources that act as nature’s kidneys to  filter and protect our drinking water. They are sponges which absorb damaging flood waters and slowly release them.
Wetlands and streams provide recreation, educational opportunities, and critical habitat for thousands of plants and animals. They enhance everyone's quality of life.
However, our more than 199,000 miles of streams and over 400,000 acres of wetlands are under attack.
The Ohio EPA is proposing changes to the way permits are issued to fill and alter wetlands and streams. Your public comments on the proposal can have a substantial impact in ensuring that we have strong environmental protections for another five years.
Please send a letter today to the Ohio Environmental Council. We will compile them and walk them over to the Ohio EPA during the public comment period.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Protect Ohio's fragile wetlands and streams
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Ohio EPA's proposed 401 rules which will govern how the Agency issues or denies a wetland impact permit. The 401 permit program is a vital part in protecting and minimizing impacts to the State's remaining 10% (or less) of wetlands.
MITIGATION
I urge the Agency to require in-watershed mitigation. The goal of mitigation is to ensure NO NET LOSS of existing uses, water quality functions, and overall integrity of the aquatic resources. Because of the importance of each wetland's function to the integrity of the entire watershed and especially to downstream uses, mitigation must be conducted within the watershed, and in many instances, on-site mitigation is preferable. Mitigating a wetland or stream several counties away or across the state punishes the community. I strongly urge the Ohio EPA to require in-watershed mitigation within the 14 digit HUC.
AVOIDANCE
The overall focus of the rulemaking is on mitigation, with little or no attention paid to the role that these regulations can play in the preservation and protection of wetlands. The regulations can, and should, emphasize AVOIDING the destruction of wetlands and MINIMIZING the impact on the wetland and greater watershed ecosystem.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD AND MITIGATION PROFILE
Any mitigation standards should be based on sound science. The wetland mitigation performance standard and the stream mitigation protocol are positive steps in addressing poor performing mitigation projects. If a developer destroys a wetland, it is only fair and reasonable that a mitigated wetland be held to a performance standard that addresses the values and ecological functions of the original wetland. Ohio EPA should implement these standards as proposed in the original rule package.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
December 13, 2007
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