The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will not enter into agreements for the licensing or leasing of ground water withdrawals from beneath department-owned property by entities outside the department. Under declared drought emergencies, the Director may choose to enter into short-term, temporary agreements for emergency water use purposes.
This directive will apply to all property owned by the Department and its various divisions and will continue indefinitely until this directive is rescinded or modified.
Requests to allow the withdrawal of ground water from beneath property owned by the Department should be referred to the Division of Water. The Division of Water should respond to these requests, explaining that such licenses or leases will not be considered.