Resolution 2025-07
WHEREAS, the Ohio River is the largest tributary by volume of the Mississippi River, playing a critical role in the hydrology, ecology, and economy of the eastern United States; and
WHEREAS, the 981-mile river provides drinking water for more than 5 million people and flows through or along the borders of six states—Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois—while the broader Ohio River Basin supports more than 30 million people across portions of 14 states; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio River Basin is home to two federally recognized Tribes, the Seneca Nation of Indians and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as many more Tribes with ancestral ties to the region; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio River and its tributaries sustain a high diversity of migratory birds, freshwater fish, and mussel species – including 46 mussel species classified as endangered or species of concern, serving as vital indicators of water quality and ecosystem health; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio River Basin drives 35% of the nation’s waterborne commerce, supports agricultural production, industrial operations, recreation, and an estimated $43 billion in commodities transport annually, making it a pillar of the regional and national economy; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio River remains among the most polluted rivers in the United States, with 146 toxic U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund sites in the region, ongoing industrial discharges of dioxins, PCBs, nitrate compounds, and mercury, as well as widespread toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination; and
WHEREAS, nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff continues to drive increases in harmful algal blooms (HABs), including a 500 mile-long bloom in 2015 and more recent incidents. These blooms threaten aquatic ecosystems, drinking water safety, and recreation while harming water quality downstream in the Mississippi River and contributing to the annual hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio River and its tributaries are increasingly impacted by more frequent and severe flooding, prolonged droughts, rising water temperatures, and shifting precipitation patterns. These trends require robust adaptation and resilience strategies to protect communities and ecosystems across the basin; and
WHEREAS, invasive species such as silver carp, zebra mussels, and hydrilla continue to spread in the Basin, disrupting native ecosystems and harming economic activities such as fisheries and recreation. Recent management and containment efforts must be expanded to prevent further ecological damage; and
WHEREAS, communities along the Ohio River and its tributaries—especially low-income communities and communities of color—face disproportionate exposure to pollution and harm, including from natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, there has been notable progress in policy and advocacy across the Basin, including state-level PFAS monitoring programs, improved water quality standards, and collaborative initiatives led by organizations such as the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), the Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA), and local nonprofit partners working to advance public engagement and restoration priorities; and
WHEREAS, residents in the region have demonstrated their support for restoration action and federal investment, made clear through National Wildlife Federation’s 31 community listening sessions and partnerships across the 14-state Basin; and
WHEREAS, the EPA’s leadership of geographically defined restoration programs has demonstrated measurable success in improving water quality, restoring ecosystems, fostering community resilience, and strengthening local economies; and
WHEREAS, there are manageable solutions to the problems impacting the waters of the Ohio River Basin that are being implemented by local, state, and federal partners; and
WHEREAS, investment in the Ohio River Basin through a dedicated federal restoration program would address the region’s pollution, habitat loss, and climate impacts, serving as a model for other major U.S. river systems facing similar environmental and economic challenges.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled June 3-6, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, supports the protection and restoration of the Ohio River and its tributaries across the 14-state Ohio River Basin due to its significance to local and regional economies, human health and community resilience, and as habitat for wildlife; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the U.S. Government, including Congress, to dedicate federal resources for Ohio River Basin restoration, in a manner comparable to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Chesapeake Bay Program, to support comprehensive watershed protection, pollution reduction, climate adaptation, habitat restoration and fairness in environmental outcomes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls for expanded federal and state support for the management and containment of invasive species such as invasive carp, zebra mussels, and hydrilla, recognizing the significant ecological and economic harm they cause to the Basin; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the implementation of comprehensive long-term adaptation and resilience strategies, including increased investments in flood mitigation, drought preparedness, and ecosystem restoration to protect communities and ecosystems from the accelerating impacts of climate change; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation advocates for federal and state-level policies that prioritize the elimination of unfair environmental burdens by ensuring low-income communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and natural disasters receive equitable access to restoration resources, clean water, and climate resilience measures; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all Ohio River Basin work has meaningful inclusion of Indigenous and local communities in restoration efforts, and community-driven solutions are prioritized in decision-making; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Ohio River Basin work is conducted in partnership with a broad range of stakeholders, including many who are integral to the region’s economy—including, but not limited to, agriculture, tourism and recreation, barge and freight, and steel industries—to ensure that efforts to restore and protection the waters of the Ohio River Basin reflect shared goals of ecological health, economic vitality, and long-term sustainability; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges a comparable investment to other geographically defined restoration programs for the Ohio River Basin through a dedicated federal geographic restoration program to effectively address the region’s pollution, habitat loss, and climate impact; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the federal government to make Ohio River restoration and protection a national priority by working collaboratively with the states and relevant stakeholders to accelerate progress in safeguarding our drinking water, public health, recreational opportunities, jobs, and fish and wildlife populations before the problems worsen and become more costly to address; and to establish policies, legislation, funding mechanisms, enforcement measures, and public education initiatives that will lead to measurable improvements in water quality, habitat conservation, and community resilience—ensuring the long-term sustainability of this vital national resource.