HOCKING COUNTY, Ohio — A Hocking County canoe livery is receiving state funding to help organize river cleanups as part of Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, which is investing nearly $87,000 in grants to improve waterways across Ohio.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) announced that Hocking Hills Adventures has been awarded $7,300 through the H2Ohio Healthy Rivers Livery Grant program to support cleanup efforts along the Hocking River.
The grant is one of 12 awarded to liveries across Ohio and can be used to purchase cleanup supplies, cover special waste disposal costs, and promote volunteer cleanup events.
“Canoe liveries are uniquely equipped to partner with us on H2Ohio’s mission to keep our rivers clean,” Governor Mike DeWine said. “Ohioans can enjoy time outdoors with family and friends, paddle down the river, and take pride in helping to preserve our beautiful waters.”
The Healthy Rivers Livery Grant provides up to $10,000 per recipient and encourages local outfitters to organize volunteer cleanups while addressing long-standing litter and debris issues along Ohio’s rivers.
According to ODNR, volunteers participating in this year’s program are expected to travel nearly 200 miles of waterways during 48 scheduled cleanup events, removing more than 20,000 pounds of trash from rivers across the state.
“The grant program does a fantastic job connecting livery owners with people who care deeply about the health of their local waterways,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “By being good stewards of the outdoors, we can ensure that these special places will be enjoyed for decades to come.”
River cleanup events funded through the program will take place in Hocking County as well as Adams, Warren, Montgomery, Greene, Stark, Paulding, Hamilton, Summit, and Clermont counties.
In addition to Hocking Hills Adventures, grants were awarded to canoe and kayak outfitters serving the Ohio River, Little Miami River, Tuscarawas River, Auglaize River, Great Miami River, Cuyahoga River, Mahoning River, Mill Creek, Paint Creek, and Blanchard River.
The H2Ohio Healthy Rivers Livery Grant is part of the broader H2Ohio initiative launched by Governor DeWine in 2019. The statewide program focuses on improving water quality through litter removal, reducing nutrient pollution, restoring habitats, conserving land, removing obsolete dams, improving drinking water infrastructure, and supporting conservation efforts across Ohio.
