Natural Systems

Transportation Funding Prioritization Process

Each year, OKI evaluates the criteria used to rank and prioritize transportation funding requests for projects within the Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Periodically, updates are made to improve project selections and to advance long range planning objectives such as SRPP policy recommendations. In recent years, OKI has added nature-based solution strategies for additional point consideration when proposed projects go beyond state or local compliance in their design. Specific examples have also been included to clarify OKI’s intention for these additional points. They include employing a regional stormwater management system; avoidance of ecosystem disruption; establishing internal mitigation requirements; improving aquatic connectivity; and voluntary ecological restoration efforts.

Environmental Consultations with State and Local Officials

As a process to the Regional Transportation Plan, OKI consults with state and local officials involved with environmental protection and mitigation. We discuss how best to avoid or mitigate the potential environmental impacts of transportation planning. This process has helped identify new opportunities for information sharing and coordination.

The 2050 OKI Metropolitan Transportation Plan used the environmental consultations process to identify environmental impacts of the plan recommendations to improve decisions. A summary of this process and details about our regionally significant resources visit https://2050.oki.org/environmental/.

Prioritizing Mitigation Opportunities in the OKI Region

In 2021, OKI staff developed and launched the Environmental Mitigation Suitability Modeler (EMSM), using the OKI Environmental Viewer as a basis. This interactive modeling tool helps communities identify and prioritize potential areas for mitigation across the region. EMSM poises our region for retaining future mitigation investments from funding provided by projects in our region. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invited staff to demonstrate this tool to the Federal Eco-Logical Program Signatory Agencies, including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. EPA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service, and representatives from the Volpe National Transportation Center (VOLPE).

Advanced Mitigation Planning and the FHWA Eco-Logical Implementation Assistance Program

The OKI Environmental Viewer was developed to provide communities in the region about regionally significant environmental resources. The primary purpose of this tool is to inform the Regional Transportation Plan of potential environmental impacts. In February 2018, OKI received national recognition as an early adopter Eco-Logical Implementation Assistance Program by the US Department of Transportation FHWA. OKI’s integration of state natural heritage endangered species data in advanced mitigation planning efforts was included in the FHWA Implementing Eco-Logical Annual Report published June 2017.

Enabling Environmentally Sensitive Building Practices Through Local Codes

Through consultation with local code officials as part of the OKI Go Solar Ready initiative, GO Solar Ready resources provide samples and models to improve permitting processes and encourage proactive solar ready construction. 

Climate Action Planning – ThriveTogether

With funding from the US EPA, OKI is leading a regional partnership to prepare a climate action plan through 2025 called ThriveTogether – A Sustainability Playbook for Greater Cincinnati. This plan includes emission reduction planning in several sectors including carbon reduction actions. Increasing urban tree and forest canopy across the region, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged neighborhoods is a strategy of this plan.

Taking Root

In 2016, Taking Root incorporated as a non-profit organization and moved out of its incubator office at OKI, which help found the regional tree planting campaign in 2013. OKI staff remain supportive of Taking Root by serving as active members on its Board of Directors. Taking Root continues working toward its primary goal of planting 2 million trees in the region. To date, over 300,000 trees have been planted.

Tree For Me

OKI developed the Tree For Me tool for sustainability organizations, local communities and residents to estimate the air quality, carbon and stormwater benefits of newly planted trees. Tree For Me received a national award from the National Association of Government Web Professionals, receiving its Excellence in Digital Innovation and Engagement Pinnacle Award. This tool serves as an educational tool and has been a portal for the Taking Root organization, the city of Covington, the city of Middletown, and both the Clermont and Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation Districts for distributing trees to residents in various tree-planting programs. Over 1,500 one-inch caliper and larger trees have been distributed to communities since 2021.

Water Planning Assistance

OKI provides technical assistance to local governments seeking grant funding for watershed restoration and protection projects and to watershed groups developing action plans, including the Mill Creek Alliance; the Caesar Creek Collaborative; East Fork Collaborative; the Little Miami River Partnership; the Cooper Creek Collaborative; the Hogan Creek and Tanners Creek watershed planning groups and the Banklick Creek watershed planning project.

My Community’s Water – Interactive Web-based Tool

In 2016, OKI used Ohio EPA funding to develop web-based, interactive water resource profiles for each of the 122 cities, villages, and townships in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties. GIS analysis of our region’s water resources lays the groundwork for informed choices when the public and private sectors plan the fate of natural systems, public facilities and land use. Quantifiable data are conveyed through maps, tables, pie charts and text. This allows fair comparisons on watersheds, streams, aquifers, impervious surfaces, tree canopies, demographics, designated floodplains and soils within the boundaries of a local political jurisdiction. View the tool.

OKI Groundwater Committee

The OKI Groundwater Committee continues to encourage partnerships among water providers across the region. The Groundwater Committee provides technical education to public water system operators, regulators and others concerned about drinking water protection. Learn more about the OKI Groundwater Committee, which meets quarterly.

Guidance and Technical Assistance

Tools, research and resources related to the Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Planning are available as a service to local government in the region. OKI staff are available to provide technical assistance for specific local planning needs and projects as resources permit.

Source Water Protection Assistance 

OKI has provided technical assistance to water suppliers in several jurisdictions to formulate source water protection plans, including Dearborn County, Butler County, Clermont County and the Village of New Miami, Ohio, and will continue to do so as funding permits. OKI has also worked with St. Clair Township in Butler County and the Miami Conservancy District to develop a comprehensive plan for the township that incorporates source water protection as an essential element.

OKI Regional Conservation Council 

The OKI Regional Conservation Council is comprised of the soil and water conservation districts from all the counties of region and is a collegial information-sharing body for the promotion and implementation of best practices, especially for managing stormwater run-off and the pollutants it carries. The RCC convenes during events twice each year. Learn more about RCC activities.