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Earlier this month, the Indiana Senate passed a bill that would remove all protections for "isolated" wetlands in the state. In our recent Op-Ed, we argue that this legislation will threaten the benefits that wetlands provide. A thread of our major points: https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/opinion/viewpoint/viewpoint-let-indiana-legislators-know-you-value-the-states-remaining-wetlands/article_8a67bebe-6a39-11eb-847b-ebf12a5aab5a.html
First off: "isolated" wetlands is kind of an oxymoron, like "jumbo" shrimp. “Isolated” wetlands are often connected to groundwater (a major source of drinking water for many Hoosiers) and they store snowmelt/rainwater that ensures future water supply (
: Golden et al. 2014)
: Golden et al. 2014)
Wetlands also provide natural flood control that protects our homes, cities, industries, and agricultural fields. You can think of wetlands as sponges
- a single acre of wetland can absorb >1 million gallons of water and then sloooowly release it over time.
- a single acre of wetland can absorb >1 million gallons of water and then sloooowly release it over time.
Wetlands also support Indiana’s billion-$ outdoor recreation economy. An example: the migratory birds that use wetlands as rest stops during their travels attract flocks of birdwatchers from around the country to northern IN every spring for the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival
This bill (SB 389) removes protections for all "state-regulated wetlands" - 80% of IN's wetlands (remaining 20% protected under federal law). Current rules allow development w/ a permitting process that involves paying for mitigation (basically building a new wetland elsewhere)
While removing regulations may provide short term economic gain for some, it will likely have long term costs (property damage, loss of benefits like flood control) for many. IN residents - you can contact your legislators + voice opposition to SB 389 http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
