Indiana Wetlands Need Your Help

Indiana Wetlands Need Your Help!

Happy World Wetland’s Day! Unfortunately, Indiana’s wetlands are currently at risk, and they need your help! Please contact your Indiana State Senator TODAY and encourage them to protect Indiana’s wetlands by Opposing HB 1383.

HB 1383 would reduce the number of wetlands that are in the most protected category (Class III). Around 85% of Indiana’s wetlands have already been lost to development of roads, buildings, or farms. This bill would put the remaining wetlands at risk of fewer protections by our state agencies.

Unfortunately, HB 1383 has passed out of the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee with a vote of 7 to 2. Time is running out, as this bill is currently eligible for a final vote as early as this coming Tuesday (2/6/2024)! Please call your local senator’s office today and ask them to protect Indiana’s most precious ecosystems by saying NO to HB 1383.

Due to the recent Supreme Court decision, Sackett v. EPA, the only wetlands protected by the federal government are those with “a continuous surface connection” to navigable waters, so the majority of wetlands in Indiana no longer qualify for federal protection. For the remaining wetlands, it is up to the Indiana State Legislature to determine how regulated, and thus how protected, our wetlands will be.

Currently, the majority of Indiana’s wetlands do not receive any level of protection, either from the Federal or State regulatory bodies. The small percentage that does have some protections make up the highest quality, least disturbed wetlands.

If HB 1383 is enacted, it will mean that some of this small group of highest quality wetlands will no longer meet the qualifications for protection. This bill moves wetland regulation in the wrong direction – we urge you to reach out to your Indiana State Senator to let them know you care about wetlands!

Wetlands provide many benefits to our state including improving our water quality by trapping and removing pollutants from surface water runoff, breaking down harmful chemicals, and contributing to improved water quality in our rivers and lakes. Wetlands reduce flooding, and provide habitat for many plant and animal species. We need our wetlands!

Please Reach out to your State Senator today to Advocate for our Wetlands!

Contact your State Senator directly via phone or email, or use the simple form put together by our partners at the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) to send a message in support of wetlands today!