4 Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Connecting Wetlands, Wildlife, and You
Veto request for SEA 389 - 5
The DNR has estimated dollar values for some of the annual benefits wetlands provide:
● $1.8 billion in water storage,
● $850 million in erosion prevention,
● $202 million in water purification, and
● support for Indiana’s multi-billion dollar outdoor recreation, hunting, and fishing industries5.
The water storage and water quality functions of wetlands can be replaced by building stormwater infrastructure, but at a substantial cost, and without wildlife, recreation, air quality, and climate benefits. EPA data on the cost of stormwater infrastructure, adjusted to 2021 dollars, show that the least expensive option costs over $86,000 per acre of wetland being replaced6. Preserving existing wetlands saves these construction costs and provides the most cost-effective stormwater management available.
INDIANAPOLIS â Wetlands legislation that had seen compromises added that were favorable to environmental groups ended up passing Tuesday with those changes stripped, providing little protection to Indiana classified wetlands.
The bill passed the House on a 58-40 tally, with numerous Republicans voting no on the final version, which saw amendments favorable to environmental groups stripped out at the last minute Monday.
Lawmakers from northeast Indiana, where much of the stateâs remaining wetlands can be found, voted against the bill. They included Reps. David Abbott, R-Albion, Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, and Denny Zent, R-Angola.
The bill now returns to the Senate where its author, Sen. Chris Garten, can either agree to the amendments to the bill or send it to a conference committee between the House and Senate to work out differences. Once that process is complete, the bill advances to Gov. Eric Holcombâs desk for approval or a veto.