Virtual Forum on Indiana Wetlands II: Where Are We Now?

Since our first forum in February, we have seen the passage of SB 389, the establishment of Governor Holcomb’s Wetlands Taskforce, and the recent repeal of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, a 2020 rule that narrowed the definition of “Waters Of The United States (WOTUS)” and left isolated wetlands and ephemeral streams at risk. In this follow-up forum with the White River Alliance, researchers from universities around the state join with representatives from IDEM and policy experts to discuss wetland hydrology and ecology, how wetland footprints are affected by changing legislation and how resulting ecosystem services are lost or gained. The speakers also evaluate recent legislation, discuss changing definitions of WOTUS and identify future management issues. A list of speakers is available here: https://bit.ly/3oHi5WI