Activists worried about wetlands as DNR program is ruled out of compliance
Indiana's wetlands mitigation program, managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), has been ruled out of compliance by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Activists are concerned about the impact on wetlands, particularly as data center development is identified as a primary threat statewide. The DNR has been directed to provide a corrective action plan.
Annette Hansen, executive director of Porter County's Izaak Walton League of America, expressed deep concern after learning the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found Indiana's wetlands program to be out of compliance. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) program, formally the Indiana Stream and Wetland Mitigation Program, failed to meet its "three-growing-season timeframe in all service areas" following a 2025 review.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported that since its launch in 2018, the DNR has collected over $109 million in wetlands payments from landowners, but many offsetting projects have stalled. The Army Corps has directed the DNR to submit a Corrective Action Plan for all service areas not meeting initial physical and biological improvements.
Susie McGovern, Water Science and Sustainability Specialist for the Hoosier Environmental Council, identified data center development as "a primary threat" statewide, citing a streamlined permitting process and past executive orders encouraging such development. She worries about the loss of wetlands, which provide crucial ecosystem services like flood reduction, water purification, groundwater recharge, and essential wildlife habitats. Activists hope state and local officials will prioritize wetland preservation in future business decisions, despite the state's business-friendly approach.