Indiana’s Polluted Wetlands: Overlooked, Underserved, and Unprecedented

Indiana Wetlands in Crisis
Indiana’s wetlands are facing a pollution crisis that’s unprecedented in scope and urgency. Our wetlands and natural resources that play critical roles in our state’s environmental health and sustainability, are at risk due to pollution from agricultural, industrial, and urban sources. Here’s why our wetlands are critical to Indiana’s future, the alarming reality of their pollution, and how you can help protect them by joining the Conservation Champions movement:

Why Indiana’s Wetlands Matter
Indiana’s wetlands are powerhouses of ecological health and sustainability, providing:

• Natural Water Filtration: Indiana has the most polluted waterways in the country, and wetlands are part of the solution. Waterways are defined as bodies of water that are used for traveling, recreation, transportation, and more. Improving and protecting our wetlands will in return improve Indiana’s waterways by reducing pollutants and sediments, as wetlands act as essential filters for nature (EPA, 2024).
• Flood and Erosion Protection: Wetlands not only filter sediments from rain and floods, they also act as natural barriers by slowing floodwaters and reducing the impact on local communities, agriculture, and infrastructure (NOAA, 2024).
• Ecosystem Conservation: Wetlands provide biodiversity hotspots for our wildlife and ecosystem. With over 40% of Indiana’s endangered and threatened species depending on wetlands for survival, conservation of Indiana’s waterways also helps our wildlife conservation efforts (IDNR, 2024).
• Carbon Storage: Wetlands capture and store carbon dioxide, helping to reduce greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere (EPA, 2024).

Despite these vital benefits, Indiana’s wetlands have been drastically reduced in recent decades. Indiana’s wetlands once covered over 5.6 million acres, but now our wetland area has been reduced by over 85% due to decades of draining, filling, and pollution. This not only harms our environment, wildlife, and health, but also our economy and future.

The Pollution Problem: Unprecedented and Accelerating
The pollution facing Indiana’s wetlands is quickly accelerating, due to several major forces happening at once, all at an unprecedented rate:

1. Agricultural Runoff at Historic Highs
   Indiana’s agricultural sector is among the nation’s leaders in corn and soybean production, both of which are fertilizer-intensive. Runoff from these fields introduces high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus into nearby wetlands, creating nutrient-rich waters that fuel algae blooms (USDA, 2024). Additionally, pesticides and herbicides used in agriculture disrupt wetland ecosystems and threaten native species, further harming our natural resources, wildlife, and community health (IDEM, 2024).
2. Growing Urbanization and Stormwater Pollution
   Urban runoff from roads, parking lots, and buildings flows directly into nearby wetlands. This water often contains a mix of oil, heavy metals, and waste, infiltrating our soil and water supplies. Combined sewer systems (such as in Indianapolis) overflow during storms, releasing untreated sewage and stormwater into our waterways, poisoning our ecosystems and natural resources (IDEM, 2024)
3. Industrial and Legacy Pollutants
   Indiana’s production has left Hoosier’s wetlands with long-term contamination. Legacy pollutants, including heavy metals and “forever” chemicals like PFAS, remain in the soil and water for decades, tainting our food supplies and negatively impacting our health (USGS, 2024).
4. Climate Change Worsens Wetland Pollution
   Changes in weather due to climate change has created a cycle of increased storms and rainfall, subsequently causing more runoff and pollutants to spread into our waterways (IU & Purdue, 2018)The opposite has negative effects as well, as droughts caused by climate change concentrate pollutants in shallow water, making it even harder for the ecosystem to recover. This damaging cycle puts Indiana’s wetlands in recurring stress, further threatening their sustainability and viability.

What You Can Do Today
ICV is working hard to protect these vital wetlands, but we need your help. As a Conservation Champion, you’ll play an essential role in supporting our efforts to safeguard Indiana’s wetlands and ensure they receive the protections they deserve. Here is how you can take action today for clean water for all Hoosiers:

• Join ICV’s Conservation Champions: By making a small monthly commitment of as little as $5, you’ll be part of a dedicated group working to protect Indiana’s most endangered natural resources.
• Raise Awareness: Subscribe to ICV’s email updates, share information with your community, and encourage others to care for our wetlands.

How joining the Conservation Champions protects Indiana’s water

• Fund Clean Water Initiatives: Donations fund on-the-ground mobilization for water quality improvement, wetlands protection, and clean drinking water for Indiana.
• Advocate for Local Policies: Supports local policies and initiatives that prioritize wetland conservation and sustainable water practices.
• Engage and Educate Communities: You can help us reach more Hoosiers, raising awareness of wetland conservation’s importance and empowering local communities to join the movement for a cleaner Indiana.

Protecting Our Future, Together
Indiana’s wetlands are in crisis and we need to act now. Protecting these unique ecosystems isn’t just an environmental responsibility; it’s an investment in Indiana’s future. With your support, we can reach more Hoosiers and politicians, raising awareness of wetland conservation’s importance and empowering Hoosiers to join the movement for a cleaner Indiana.

References
Environmental Protection Agency. “Functions and Values of Wetlands.” EPA.gov. https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/functions-and-values-wetlands

Indiana Department of Environmental Management. “Indiana’s Wetlands and Water Quality.” IN.gov. https://www.in.gov/idem/wetlands/

Indiana Department of Environmental Management. “Stormwater Management Program.” IN.gov. https://www.in.gov/idem/stormwater/

Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “Biodiversity in Indiana’s Wetlands.” IN.gov. https://www.in.gov/dnr/

Indiana University, Purdue University. Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment: Water Resources in a Changing Climate. Purdue Climate Change Research Center, 2018. https://ag.purdue.edu/indianaclimate/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Wetland and Coastal Resilience.” NOAA.gov. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Nutrient Pollution from Agriculture.” USDA.gov. https://www.usda.gov/

U.S. Geological Survey. “Nutrient Pollution in Indiana’s Waterways.” USGS.gov. https://www.usgs.gov/