Congressman McGarvey has also introduced a bill to help restore the Ohio River.

This spring, dozens of people have paddled hundreds of miles along the river to highlight the recreational opportunities and restoration needs of the crucial waterway.

The challenge started in 2021, and this year's trip is the longest yet.

Our June Lefler met these paddlers in Westport, Kentucky.

The 2026 Ohio River Wade challenge spans nearly 500 miles, with stops in more than a dozen Kentucky River towns.

This is our sixth annual challenge, where we paddle stretches of the Ohio River and big 30ft canoes.

This year is our biggest yet 488 miles between Huntington, West Virginia and Evansville, Indiana.

And our goal on this expedition is to promote river recreation and to highlight the need for ecological restoration.

This is the first through paddle of our route since the Ohio River way was designated as a national water trail in June 2025.

What it means is that there is a formal stamp of approval, and that this is a national destination for folks that want to plan multi-day paddling boating.

We've rowing expeditions on the Ohio River.

The 23 day journey is a concerted effort to get more people out on the water, including policymakers.

Just paddled our way through the rain and the downpour and tossed in some songs and had a blast.

We had an opportunity today to paddle with probably about 25 people ranging in age from 16 years old to about 75 years old.

This is an ageless sport, if you will.

Wellness is for everyone.

When you're on the river, you see things totally different.

We all often drive along the river, but we don't look at our land and the beautiful nature that Kentucky has from that perspective.

We have so many, so many waters in Kentucky with our with our lakes and our state parks that are really utilized well.

But is our river utilized quite as much?

I don't know.

Alongside these canoes is a floating lab for college research projects.

And the research we've been working on is looking at all of the tributaries and the confluences with the Ohio River.

We are taking samples of sediment that has been deposited in that in those areas going to be used kind of as a tool for communities to protect themselves from erosion.

The nonprofit organizing this trip, the Ohio River way, works year round to promote tourism and other economic drivers in river towns.

It also advocates for the ecological well-being of the river.

The river has drastically increase in water quality over the decades since the Clean Water Act.

It generally meets recreational standards.

It is already time for us to wrap our arms around and embrace the river as our region's greatest natural asset.

Same time, there's a lot more that we can do.

So right now in Congress, there is a bill to restore the Ohio River basin.

It would authorize $350 million a year for five years for projects related to water quality, toxic pollution remediation, habitat restoration, flooding mitigation and recreational infrastructure.

It's non regulatory and it's bipartisan.

Louisville Democratic congressman is pushing this legislation.

It's the largest body of water in the entire country that doesn't receive a single dime in dedicated federal funding.

And the thing we know that if we do nothing then the Ohio River is not going to be here for future generations.

And we've seen other federal initiatives that are really successful.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Initiative.

And so we want to make sure that the Ohio River gets what it's due.

The Ohio River Wade challenge landed in Louisville this past Memorial Day due to weather concerns.

The challenge will stay onshore and launch again in the fall.

Casting off for Evansville, Indiana for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Jen Leffler.

Thank you.

Gene.

Well, Congressman McGarvey is Ohio River Restoration Program Act has 15 co-sponsors and bipartisan support.

Though it hasn't been heard on the floor yet, McGarvey is pushing for that funding in a larger waterways package.