Grants available for ditch program

The benefits of modifying the shape of a drainage ditch to slow water flow and reduce downstream run-off were touted last week when Gov. Mike DeWine and Dorothy Pelanda, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, visited Northwest Ohio.
Gov. DeWine and Pelanda announced a $5 million grant program to add two-stage ditches to the list of best management practices included in the H2Ohio Initiative program.
A two-stage ditch is a conservation practice that modifies the shape of a drainage ditch to create vegetation “benches” on each side. The benches are designed to slow water flow into the ditch and reduce downstream runoff of nutrients.
Sometimes called a “ditch-within-a-ditch,” the two-stage ditch provides a low-flow channel and the vegetated benches that are flooded during higher flows. The vegetation helps capture sediment and other algae-feeding nutrients such as phosphorus.
The governor and Pelanda met with local officials at Smith Ditch in Sylvania Township where a two-stage ditch was constructed in 2020.
The two-stage ditch becomes the eighth best management practice in the H2Ohio program, which provides incentives for growers to implement conservation practices designed to reduce run-off and improve water quality.
The ditch grant program is available in the 24 counties in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Soil and Water Conservation Districts and county engineers are eligible to apply for up to full reimbursement of the cost of constructing a two-stage ditch.
“Two stage ditches are an important technology that re-establishes the natural floodplain area, which lowers flood risk and increases water quality,” Mike Pniewski, Lucas County engineer, said. “H2Ohio’s investment will improve the quality of life for those in the Maumee River Watershed.”
Applications for the grant program will be mailed directly to soil and water conservation district offices and county engineer offices and must be submitted by Nov. 30.
“We always strive to evolve with H2Ohio, looking at science to offer the best practices to reduce nutrient run-off,” Pelanda said.
Mike Libben, director of the Ottawa County Soil and Water Soil District, said there is a two-stage ditch being planned in the county through a grant.
Ron Lajti, Ottawa County engineer, said the ditches require planning.
“Proper design can require a very large footprint and potentially create a great deal of spoil to relocate. Because of these substantial factors, the placement and construction of these ditches must be carefully planned out. If done correctly the environmental benefits can definitely exceed the cost. Two-stage ditches are one more great resource to help us mitigate the pollutants in our waterways,” he said.