Ohio River Basin Alliance - ORBA

03/27/2026

Webinar - Next Week!

Join the Ohio River Basin Alliance, River Management Society, and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council for an webinar on Tuesday, March 31 from 12-1p ET. Learn more about this new campaign to increase awareness of the Ohio River Basin, expand recreational opportunities and access, and how to engage with these efforts as an event host.

To join, click the link below to join the meeting or save it in your calendar. See you soon!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86353352039

01/30/2026

Leadership doesn’t just happen in public meetings—it continues in rooms like this.

Today, ORBA’s board and leadership team are together, connecting with many critical partners, sharing perspectives, and aligning on the work ahead for the Ohio River Basin. These conversations strengthen collaboration and ensure our rivers continue to support safe and healthy communities and ecosystems.



Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) National Wildlife Federation The Nature Conservancy

01/20/2026

Join us!

Join us for January’s Ohio River Basin Alliance - ORBA Discussion Series Webinar:
Funding the Future: Federal & State Investments Driving Watershed Recovery in the Ohio River Basin

📅 Wednesday, January 28
⏰ Noon–1:00 PM

🔗Register here: https://www.orsanco.org/ohio-river-discussion-series/

Learn how recent federal and state investments are making a real impact across the Ohio River Basin—from restoring Raccoon Creek and revitalizing the Mahoning River to addressing contaminants of emerging concern. Hear from regional experts as they share on-the-ground examples of how coordinated funding and partnerships are driving meaningful environmental progress.

The ORBA Discussion Series brings communities together to share knowledge, ideas, and passion for the Ohio River through timely conversations on water quality, ecosystem restoration, research, education, and more.

The Series is an opportunity for communities to share their knowledge and passion for the Ohio River. This seasonal series of webinars features topics in Water Quality, Ecosystem Restoration, Research, Education, Transportation, Flood Control, and Recreation. The series is hosted by ORSANCO and supported by the Foundation for Ohio River Education, Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, Kentucky Association for Environmental Education, Thomas More University, Youngstown State University, and Ohio Watershed Leaders.

01/20/2026

As we kick off 2026, we’re excited about the momentum building across the Ohio River Basin—and grateful to be working alongside so many dedicated partners to advance healthy waters, healthy communities, and healthy economies.

Here’s what’s ahead this year:
✅ Growing bipartisan support for the Ohio River Restoration Program Act (H.R. 5966)—a first-ever national restoration program for the Basin
🎓 A return of the Ohio River Discussion Series, starting January 28, featuring experts on watershed funding, restoration, and recovery
🏛️ Plans underway for our 4th Annual ORB Hill Day in Washington, D.C. this spring
🚣 Applications now open for the Ohio River Way Challenge, a 480-mile paddling journey to raise awareness for the river as a recreational and ecological resource

Thank you to our members, partners, and advocates who continue to push this work forward. If you’re looking for ways to get more involved in 2026, we’d love to connect.

Here’s to a strong year for the Ohio River Basin 💙

01/13/2026

Funding the Future: Federal & State Investments Driving Watershed Recovery in the Ohio River Basin - Join the Ohio River Basin Alliance Discussion Series

The Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA) Discussion Series brings together leaders, practitioners, and communities who care deeply about the future of the Ohio River. This seasonal webinar series highlights innovative work across water quality, ecosystem restoration, research, education, flood control, transportation, and recreation—showcasing what’s possible when collaboration leads the way.

January Ohio River Discussion Series Webinar
Wednesday, January 28 | Noon–1:00 p.m. (ET)

How are recent federal and state investments translating into real, on-the-ground progress for rivers and watersheds across the Ohio River Basin?

Funding the Future will spotlight how strategic funding and strong partnerships are accelerating watershed restoration, source water protection, and recovery efforts throughout the basin. Hear firsthand examples—from restoring Raccoon Creek and revitalizing the Mahoning River to addressing contaminants of emerging concern—and learn how coordinated investment is delivering measurable environmental results.

This timely conversation is ideal for watershed leaders, local governments, nonprofits, utilities, educators, and anyone interested in advancing clean water solutions at scale.

Featured Speakers

Amy Mackey, Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service
Coordinating restoration in the Raccoon Creek watershed, Amy brings deep experience working across landowners, agencies, nonprofits, and universities to turn funding into action.

Stephanie Dyer, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments
A leading voice in Mahoning River revitalization, Stephanie shares how regional planning, dam removal, and public engagement are helping bring a legacy river back to life.

Chloe Brantley, Kentucky Rural Water Association
With expertise spanning water policy, infrastructure, and source water protection, Chloe offers insight into how funding flows from federal and state programs to local impact.

The ORBA Discussion Series was launched by the Ohio River Way in 2020 and expanded in 2021 to include additional ORBA partners. The series is hosted by ORSANCO and supported by the Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE), Ohio University’s Voinovich School, the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education, Thomas More University, and Youngstown State University.

👉 Join us on January 28 to learn how today’s investments are shaping the future of the Ohio River Basin.

11/26/2025

Give Thanks and Take Action!

During this week of gratitude, we are thankful for the Ohio River and the abundance of resources it provides our 14-state region.

NOW is the time to contact your Representative to ensure that it, and the communities that depend on it, thrive for generations to come!

This Ohio River Restoration Program Act would invest up to $350 million per year in the 14-state Ohio River Basin to:

-Clean up toxic pollution
-Restore fish and wildlife habitat
-Reduce runoff
-Manage invasive species
-Rebuild natural landscapes to reduce flooding

Please take the following actions before NOON today (Wednesday, Nov. 26th):

1. Call Your U.S. Representative

-Find your representative’s name and contact info at the link provided or call the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121.
Introduce yourself and the organization for whom you work (if appropriate).

-Respectfully ask Rep. X to co-sponsor the Ohio River Restoration Protection Act. The bill number is H.R. 5966.

Consider adding why you care about the act. For example, “I am concerned about X. (PFAS, acid mine drainage, old unsafe dam, etc.)” Or, “I like to hunt and fish/kayak/camp/hike and would like to see habitat restored/am concerned with invasive species/outdoor recreation economy, etc.”

-Thank the staffer.

It is especially important to contact Representatives who serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Committee members can be found at this link: https://transportation.house.gov/about/membership.htm

2. Follow Up with an Email to you Representative
-Include who you are, where you live, why clean water matters to you.

-Ask them to co-sponsor HR 5966.
-Personalize your message.
3. Share This Call to Action on your social media page

Photo: Tom Weast, Ohio River Basin Photo Contest

11/25/2025

TAKE ACTION! Support the Ohio River Basin Restoration!

Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), recently led the introduction of the Ohio River Restoration Program Act. This bipartisan effort would invest up to $350 million per year in the 14-state Ohio River Basin to:

-Clean up toxic pollution
-Restore fish and wildlife habitat
-Reduce runoff
-Manage invasive species
-Rebuild natural landscapes to reduce flooding

This funding would benefit communities across the Ohio River Basin, including parts of KY, AL, GA, IL, IN, MD, MS, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, and WV!

Now, we need YOUR VOICE to show that this bill has bipartisan support and should be included in the Dec. 10 House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee markup.

Please take the following actions before NOON on Wednesday, Nov. 26:

1. Call Your U.S. Representative

-Find your representative’s name and contact info at the link provided or call the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121.
Introduce yourself and the organization for whom you work (if appropriate).

-Respectfully ask Rep. X to co-sponsor the Ohio River Restoration Protection Act. The bill number is H.R. 5966.
Consider adding why you care about the act. For example, “I am concerned about X. (PFAS, acid mine drainage, old unsafe dam, etc.)” Or, “I like to hunt and fish/kayak/camp/hike and would like to see habitat restored/am concerned with invasive species/outdoor recreation economy, etc.”

-Thank the staffer.

It is especially important to contact Representatives who serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Committee members can be found at this link: https://transportation.house.gov/about/membership.htm

2. Follow Up with an Email to you Representative

-Include who you are, where you live, why clean water matters to you.
-Ask them to co-sponsor HR 5966.
-Personalize your message.

3. Share This Call to Action on your social media page

10/18/2025

10/18/2025

09/30/2025

Exciting News! We are pleased to announce that the ORB Congressional Caucus Co-Chairs, Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN-09) and Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03) have released the text for the Ohio River Restoration Program Act—a bill to establish an Ohio River Basin Restoration Program. This is an important and exciting next step to secure federal funding opportunities to restore & protect our waterways, strengthen local economies, and safeguard public health for communities throughout the Basin.

In a show of support, the Co-Chairs are inviting organizations to publicly endorse the bill. Ideally, these endorsements will come over the next few days, as they are looking for a strong start right out of the gate. To endorese the bill, please contact Nicole Saitta, Senior Legislative Assistant in the Office of Representative Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), at [email protected], and please feel free to share the good news with your respective networks.

Read the one pager here: https://bit.ly/orbonepager
Read the full text here: https://bit.ly/orbbill

08/18/2025

Join us for our upcoming events this fall!

On September 09, ORBA will be in D.C. for the third annual Ohio River Basin Day on the Hill in collaboration with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Hear from a diverse panel on the work being done in and around the Ohio River before heading to congressional offices to meet with representatives to advocate for federal funding in the basin. Register at bit.ly/orbhillday

This October 16-18, ORBA is collaborating with Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Ohio River Way, and the University of Louisville's Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute to host the Ohio River Basin Confluence Summit in Louisville. Register now for early bird pricing at bit.ly/confluencereg

As always, stay tuned on our website ohioriverbasinalliance.org to hear more details about these and other events.