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On November 7, 2000, Ohio voters passed Issue 1, a $400 million statewide ballot initiative that will help support brownfields restoration, farmland preservation, stream and watershed restoration and protection, open space conservation, and outdoor recreation.
In January 2001 Ohio's governor released the Clean Ohio Fund Implementation White Paper, detailing his vision regarding the administration of the fund. The administration proposes to set aside $25 million for a pilot program to purchase agricultural easements on valuable agricultural land. A total of $50 million will be available over the program's initial 4 years to protect high-quality streams and restore impaired water resources through protection of habitat along Ohio streams. Eligible projects will include the purchase of easements or fee simple interest in land to protect and restore streams and forested riparian corridors. Funding will also support projects that protect or restore natural stream channel functions, floodplains, and riparian corridors (for example, removal of dams that are no longer needed, provisions for fish passage, protection and restoration of natural flow regimes, or restoration of floodplains and associated wetlands).
In addition, the Clean Ohio Fund will set aside $175 million for brownfields restoration, $100 million for greenspaces, and $25 million each for developing recreational trails and cleaning up threats to public health.
For more information on the Clean Ohio Fund, see www.dnr.state.oh.us/ cleanohiofund. 
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