Promoting Adoption of Ditch
Conservation Practices:
Lessons Learned from
H2Ohio State Funding in Ohio

About:
• Launched by Governor Mike DeWine in 2019, H2Ohio is a comprehensive water quality
initiative that is working to strategically address serious water issues that have been
building in Ohio for decades.
• H2Ohio was first funded by the Ohio General Assembly with an investment of $172
million in the 2020-2021 biennium.
• This funding has allowed H2Ohio to begin the long-term process to reduce phosphorus
runoff from farms using proven, science-based agronomic BMPs, wetlands, riparian
buffers, and two-stage ditches.

Agronomic Practices:
• $62 million annually
• 35% of WLEB enrolled
(1.5 million acres)
• 2,400 contracts

Current H2Ohio Program Enrollment
- Farm Bill Wetland and Buffer Practices
• Farm Bill Wetlands
2,872 Aces
• Farm Bill Forested
Riparian Buffers
119 Acres
• Total Funds Encumbered
$6 million

Newest Addition!!!
“Governor DeWine Announces
$5 Million Grant Program for
New H2Ohio Best Management
Practice…”
Two-Stage Ditches

Grant Details: Requirements
1. Final constructed two-stage ditches must be placed on
ORC 6137 maintenance program.
•A projects petitioned via ORC 940 or 6131
•Private group projects.
•Ditches currently on maintenance.
2. Must be two-stage or self-forming designs.
•Design must meet regionally accepted methods.
•For example, using the Tri-Stage Regional Curve to size the two-stage
ditch.
Two-Stage Ditch

Two-Stage Ditch
Self-Forming Ditch
-Increased Phosphorus
Removal

Grant Details: Applications
• Applications are reviewed by ODA staff.
• Must include preliminary design info
AND requested funds.
• Preliminary design info includes plan map, grades,
lengths, structures, size, and watersheds
• Requested funds may cover costs for all two-stage
ditch sections and their associated structures,
excluding bridges and other crossings.
Two-Stage Ditch

Great Black Swamp
Program Area in BLUE
WLEB Watershed
Two-Stage Ditch

Grant Details: Process
1. SWCD or County Engineer submits application before deadline.
2. ODA-DSWC Engineers review application and project details using internal metrics.
a. Internal metrics include length, watershed area, cost per foot, structures, grades, existing
conditions, etc.
b. Applicants may revise grant details after discussing project with ODA-DSWC engineers.
3. ODA-DSWC Chief approves or rejects application based on recommendation of ODA-DSWC
Engineers or availability of funds.
4. Requested funds are encumbered at ODA for approved projects until construction is completed.
5. Applicants submit final, stamped engineering plans to ODA-DSWC Engineers for concurrence of
final design.
6. After construction is completed, applicants submit final As-Built plans and itemized bills of
project.
a. Itemized bills must separate 2S/SF ditch sections from non-2S/SF ditch sections.
b. 2S/SF ditch section bills may include earthwork, structures, billed time, etc.
c. Bridges and other crossings in 2S/SF ditch sections are not eligible bills for this grant.
7. ODA awards funds up to the encumbered amount or 2S/SF ditch section bills, whichever is less.
8. ODA tracks projects stats and works with research professionals, if possible, to track water
quality benefits.
Two-Stage Ditch

Two-Stage Ditch Regional Curve Design
• For the Northwest Ohio region, the “Agricultural Ditches (IN, MI, OH) Regional Curve” is
generally considered appropriate for two-stage design on agricultural ditches.
• Other curves or design methods may be considered on a case-by-case basis with proper
supporting documentation submitted with the application.
Agricultural Ditches Regional Curve Equations
𝑾 = 𝟔. 𝟗 ∗ 𝑫𝑨𝟎.𝟒𝟐
𝑫 = 𝟏. 𝟎 ∗ 𝑫𝑨𝟎.𝟑𝟐
• W=inset channel top width
• D=inset channel depth
• Total bench width should be
3W to 5W (floodplain width)

Quick Notes on the Equations
• Benches do not need to be the same size, but we do not recommend one-
sided construction.
• Current channel size will probably be different from inset channel size.
• Flooded width sizes are guidelines and can be adjusted by +/- 25%.
• Depth should be based on weight of evidence evaluation. Suggest not
making mean inset channel depth more than a 0.1 ft deeper than equations
unless there is compelling evidence. Making them a few tenths of a foot
shallower should not be a problem.

Self-Forming Ditch Regional Curve Design
• The two-stage ditch equations can be rearranged using some assumptions to
develop an equation for the design bottom width of a self-forming channel (overwide
trapezoidal ditch).
• Assumptions: Side slopes = 2:1 and choose a floodplain ratio (3:1, 4:1, or 5:1)
Self-Forming Ditch Equations
𝑩𝑾𝟑:𝟏 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟕 ∗ 𝑫𝑨𝟎.𝟒𝟐 − 𝟒 ∗ 𝑫𝑨𝟎.𝟑𝟐
𝑩𝑾𝟒:𝟏 = 𝟐𝟕. 𝟔 ∗ 𝑫𝑨𝟎.𝟒𝟐 − 𝟒 ∗ 𝑫𝑨𝟎.𝟑𝟐
𝑩𝑾𝟓:𝟏 = 𝟑𝟒. 𝟓 ∗ 𝑫𝑨𝟎.𝟒𝟐 − (𝟒 ∗ 𝑫𝑨𝟎.𝟑𝟐)
BW=Bottom width of overwide
trapezoidal ditch (assumes 2:1 side slopes).

Internal Goals:
• $5 million initial allocation
• 20 Total Projects
• 30 Total Miles
• Average cost of $30 per foot
Note: These internal goals were made using the above assumptions. However,
two-stage ditch projects can vary greatly in cost, so final numbers may be
significantly different.
Future signups will be dependent on initial program success and available funds.

Questions or Comments?
Justin L. McBride, P.E.
Conservation Engineer
Ohio Department of Agriculture
justin.mcbride@agri.ohio.gov
(419) 614-0459