U.S. Clean Water Act Section 319 supports a number of projects aimed at reducing nonpoint sources of pollution. Under this act, Ohio agencies have funded millions of dollars in nonpoint source related research, demonstrations and project implementation. RAP implementation funding is also available under the Great Lakes Commission Soil Erosion and Sedimentation grant program. The Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund offers financial and planning assistance to RAP organizations. The Fund provides loans at below market interest rates for projects such as agricultural runoff controls, landfill remediation projects, stream corridor restoration, brownfield remediation, urban storm water runoff and best management practices.
Special assistance is available for small communities or areas with unique situations.
The Lake Erie Protection Fund and the Ohio Environmental Education Fund are grant programs that can be used to fund implementation of remedial actions in AOCs as well. The Authority has already worked with two RAP organizations to implement remedial actions and conduct additional research. It has initiated planning with the Ashtabula River Area of Concern Partnership to develop a long-term funding plan for the removal of contaminated sediments from the Ashtabula River. The important thing is to set goals, define a path to reach them and then begin to match funding sources to specific projects. Although most of the speakers at the workshop addressed funding sources available only to specific geographic areas, primarily Ohio, similar programs are available throughout the Great Lakes on both sides of the border.