Ohio’s Governor DeWine just signed the Capital Budget Bill(HB 687) which allocates $515 million, the largest such investment in Ohio history, to help provide significant improvements in lodges, campgrounds, cabins, dams, trails, and natural areas, in addition to continuing the historic preservation of the Muskingum River Lock and Dam. These funds will also be used for safety-related projects, such as the repair of dams and bridges, and to fix some our historic sites in Ohio’s parks. House Bill 687 also invests in wildlife research, conservation, and helps protect and improve some of our most important forests and natural areas, including Blackhand Gorge in Licking County, which has trails in need of repair.
It also invests $72 million to the Ohio Dept of Agriculture for a new Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, which will benefit livestock and wildlife both.
The state of OHIO also just announced a land purchase to grow the largest State Wildlife are by another 6,898 acres!
This is a big step in the right direction for conservation, wildlife, and our public land access!
Thanks to OH Board Member Tony Ruffing for providing this content!