Balanced Growth: a voluntary, incentive-based strategy to protect and restore Lake Erie, the Ohio River, and Ohio's watersheds to assure long-term economic competitiveness, ecological health, and quality of life.The goal of the program is to link land-use planning to the health of watersheds and major water bodies.
The Program includes recommendations and resources for local governments who wish to implement Best Local Land Use Practices.
NEW! Model Tree Canopy Cover and Green Infrastructure Management documents added to Special Topics on the Best Local Land Use Practices Resources page.
Want to compare your existing code or comprehensive planning process to the recommended Best Practices? Use the new checklists (click here then scroll to bottom of page).
We have developed this brief to communicate what local governments can learn from the results of a study the Ohio Balanced Growth Program co-sponsored with the Ohio Department of Transportation.
A watershed based planning framework is also available. See the Ohio Balanced Growth Program Strategy.
A Watershed Balanced Growth Plan is a framework for coordinated, local decision making about how growth and conservation should be promoted by local and state policies and investments in the context of watersheds. For a listing of current state endorsed watershed Balanced Growth Plans, see this page.
To see the map of the current Balanced Growth watersheds (pdf), click here.
June 2013 Watersheds Map
Department of Agriculture | Development Services Agency | Department of Health | Department of Natural Resources | Department of Transportation | Environmental Protection Agency
Office of the Governor of Ohio | Department of Agriculture | Development Services Agency | Department of Health | Department of Natural Resources | Department of Transportation | Environmental Protection Agency | Public Utilities Commission | Public Works Commission | Water Development Authority