Keep what you love about Indiana in Indiana
Protect Indiana’s Wetlands
Indiana has already lost over 85% of its wetlands. Our remaining wetlands provide natural protection from flooding, filter pollution runoff, and provide critical habitats for birds and other wildlife. One acre of wetland can store up to one million gallons of water. But our wetlands are under threat again. Despite overwhelming opposition from Hoosiers, special interests are working to further weaken wetlands protection. Tell your elected officials to protect our hardworking wetlands.
Why Should You Care?
Indiana state legislators passed Senate Bill 389 in 2021. This legislation drastically rolled back wetland protections and put more than 400,000 acres of wetlands in Indiana at risk. Even though polling shows that over 94% of Indiana voters believe that state leaders should either strengthen or maintain Indiana’s current wetland protections, special interests are pushing for even further rollbacks
Without action, we could lose more of our vital wetlands and all the important services they provide for the people, birds and wildlife in Indiana.
Urge your state senator to amend HB 1383 to protect Indiana wetlands.
Understanding Our Wetlands
Wetlands exist where water covers soil, including marshes, wet meadows, swamps and more. Though it may seem simple, wetlands provide invaluable protection to countless birds and wildlife species. Without wetlands, these animals face habitat loss and potential extinction.
The benefits of wetlands go far beyond wildlife too. Think of our wetlands as natural sponges that counteract surface-water runoff from development, like parking lots and buildings. Wetlands slowly absorb and distribute surface water from rain, snowmelt and floods, spreading it across floodplains and protecting the landscape. Wetlands also enhance our water quality, provide flood protection, maintain water flow and irrigation, absorb carbon, and control erosion.
In short, without protection, more properties will flood, even in areas that don’t normally see flooding, wildlife will lose a critical source for food, shelter and breeding grounds, and Hoosier communities will suffer.
About Our Cause
Audubon Great Lakes is a nonprofit committed to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow in Indiana, using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation.
Wetlands are among the most important resources for America’s birds. Indiana’s wetlands once covered nearly a quarter of the state. That number is less than 4% now and special interests want to further erode state protections. Help us protect the state and its wildlife.
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It’s easy to underestimate the importance of wetlands. But the data is irrefutable: Wetlands protect wildlife and humans alike. Join the movement to protect and prioritize our landscape.