The 2021 Indiana law, Senate Enrolled Act 389 (SEA 389), weakened wetland protections. It removed protections for lower-quality “Class I” wetlands and reduced protections for “Class II” wetlands. Before this law, these wetlands were safeguarded by the state’s Isolated Wetlands Law, but SEA 389 removed protections for about half of Indiana’s remaining wetlands. This change makes many wetlands not covered by federal laws more vulnerable to development, increasing flooding risks, water pollution, and loss of wildlife habitat.

The 2023 Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA limited the wetlands protected under the Clean Water Act. The Court ruled that only wetlands directly connected to navigable waters are protected, excluding many isolated or seasonally connected wetlands. This ruling removes federal safeguards from numerous wetlands, leaving them more vulnerable to development, pollution, and destruction, which could harm important services like flood control, water cleaning, and wildlife habitat. As a result, many states and local governments are considering stronger protections to fill the gap left by reduced federal oversight, but not Indiana.

The bill proposes changes that could reduce oversight of wetlands by eliminating certain classification rules. One key change is reclassifying some higher-protection Class III wetlands to Class II, which already has limited protections, especially after 2021 legislation weakened wetland laws. This could lead to more development in areas that were previously better protected, raising concerns about impacts on wildlife, water quality, and local ecosystems. Overall, HB 1383 reflects the ongoing debate between prioritizing economic development and protecting the environment. 

Forests play a crucial role in absorbing rainwater and reducing runoff. When forests are cleared, the land becomes more susceptible to erosion, increasing wetland sedimentation. This sediment can clog waterways, disrupt aquatic habitats, and alter the natural hydrology of the wetland areas.

Forests act as natural filters, improving water quality by trapping pollutants and excess nutrients before they enter wetlands. Deforestation can lead to a rise in nutrient runoff (such as nitrogen and phosphorus), which can cause algal blooms in wetlands, depleting oxygen levels and harming aquatic life.

Tree removal affects the local water cycle. Forests help maintain groundwater levels by facilitating infiltration. Without forests, groundwater recharge may be reduced, which can lower water levels in nearby wetlands, compromising their ecological integrity.

Wetlands are home to various plant and animal species that rely on forest ecosystems for habitat and food sources. The loss of forests can lead to habitat fragmentation and a decline in species that depend on forest and wetland environments, thereby reducing overall biodiversity.

Forests help to absorb excess rainfall and slow down floodwaters. Their removal can lead to increased flood risk in adjacent wetland areas, resulting in habitat loss and increased vulnerability of wetland ecosystems to disturbances.

Forests sequester carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. Their loss can contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating climate impacts that can alter wetland conditions, such as shifts in precipitation patterns and increased temperatures.