Briefs: Grant program to enhance Lake Erie Marion Star New grant program to enhance Lake Erie water quality REYNOLDSBURG – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Division of Soil and Water Conservation a five-year, $8-million grant to assist in Ohio’s work to improve water quality in Lake Erie. Administered by the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), the grant funding will support the H2Ohio initiative by assisting farmers in developing nutrient management plans and conservation practices in Crawford, Erie, Huron, Marion, Ottawa, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby and Wyandot counties.