Viewpoint: Let Indiana legislators know you value the state's remaining wetlands
Acre for acre, it’s hard to beat wetlands when it comes to the benefits they provide to us — filtration of groundwater, protection from floods and habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. Unfortunately, 85% of the wetlands that were formerly present when Indiana became a state 200 years ago — and those benefits — have been lost. Now, recent legislation under consideration by the Indiana House of Representatives threatens to further those losses.
On Feb. 1, the Senate voted 29-19 on Senate Bill 389 to allow the filling or draining of any state-regulated wetlands without review, which puts up to 80% of the state’s remaining wetlands at risk of permanent elimination. The bill, which now goes to the House, threatens to reverse progress made in protecting these vital habitats in Indiana. Current regulations allow for responsible development and land protection to co-exist by requiring a permitting process and mitigation, but do not deprive property owners of their rights to develop areas with isolated wetlands. SB 389 would remove this reasonable process.
While the wetlands at issue are considered “isolated” because they do not have a direct surface connection to a waterway, there’s actually no such thing as an “isolated” wetland. As aquatic scientists, we study how everything in nature is connected by water. “Isolated” wetlands are often connected to groundwater — a major source of drinking water for many Hoosiers — and snowmelt and rainwater stored in these wetlands can slowly infiltrate down into the ground, ensuring future water supply.
Although wetlands can be small in size, they punch well above their weight in terms of the benefits they provide. In addition to replenishing groundwater, wetlands act as filters to improve water quality and remove harmful chemicals. Wetlands also provide natural flood control that protects our homes, cities, industries and agricultural fields. Like a sponge, a single acre of wetland can absorb over one million gallons of water and then slowly release it over time to reduce flooding.
Wetlands also help support Indiana’s outdoor recreation economy, which generates more than $15 billion annually for the state and provides over 100,000 jobs for our citizens according to the Indiana Outdoor Industry Association. Wetlands serve as critical habitat for a wide variety of wildlife valued by nature enthusiasts and sought after by hunters and anglers. For example, the migratory birds that use wetlands as rest stops during their travels attract birdwatchers from around the country to our region every spring for the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival. Healthy wetlands are also critical habitats for waterfowl hunting. Without wetlands, many of these recreational opportunities, and the economic benefits they bring, will be lost.
Some of us may recall our childhood joy of running out to the local pond or “mudhole” to catch frogs, throw stones or just splash around and get muddy with our friends. These memories make indelible marks into adulthood on the worth of the natural world that sustains us. Indeed, wetlands have collective value to all of us, but particularly for our children and grandchildren, who will inherit the consequences of our decisions.
We have an obligation to defend these fragile habitats and the benefits they provide for us, our neighbors and future generations. State regulations as they now stand balance development needs with preserving natural wetlands and their societal benefits. Current laws promote a measured process to assess this balance, whereas complete deregulation of these wetlands by SB 389 will come at a steep cost to Indiana’s environment and to all Hoosiers.
We urge our fellow citizens to contact their legislators (http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/) and voice their opposition to SB 389. Let them know that you value our state’s remaining wetlands, and want their protections to stand.
