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What is a Wellfield Protection Area?

The Tributary
(Continued from previous page)

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website (www.IndyH2O.org). & Stephanie used or stored. Wellfield sensitivity to Newsletter of the Mud Creek Conservancy
starts as rain and melted snow. It seeps into the ground pollution is measured by “Time of Travel”.
from the surface through
Spring 2005
soil, sand, gravel and rocks.
Water collects in small Critical Habitat Threatened by
pockets in between the
sand and gravel (or “pores”) High Density Development
underground. A large The 27 acre parcel on the southeast corner of 82nd Street and Sargent Road has
ground water body that is been slated for development. This sensitive acreage is comprised of woods,
tapped by wells and wetlands and former agricultural land and hosts a rich diversity of native plants
pumped to the surface for and wildlife. The property also lies in a wellfield protection area. On March 15th,
use is referred to as an an illegal attempt was made to begin filling the property as dozens of dump
Board of Directors
aquifer. Marion County has trucks moved fill from an excavation at Geist dam onto the property. Alert
large sand and gravel Frank Smietana, President members of the Sargent Road Association (SRA) and MCC were able to obtain
aquifers that are valuable
drinking water sources, John Lindstaedt, Treasurer
including the Mud Creek
and Fall Creek aquifers. The Janice Montross, Secretary
Indianapolis Water Utility
drills wells into these Jennifer Dill-McGill
aquifers, and then pumps
Jackie Morice
groundwater to the surface
for use by area residents and Bill Morice
industry. The land
surrounding the well is Robert Reel
called a wellfield, or the area
from which groundwater Oren Testa
could be pulled into the
wells during pumping.

Water collecting on the


surface in the wellfield and
surrounding area seeps Contact us:
through the ground into an
Mud Creek Conservancy
aquifer. The area where the
surface water seeps into the 82nd Street and Sargent Road: More disappearing open space
7399 N. Shadeland Ave. #123
ground to the aquifer and a stop work order later that day, but no remediation has taken place despite the
recharges the wells is called Partial map of the Mud Creek & Fall Creek Wellfield Protection Areas. Light blue zones indicate five Indianapolis, IN 46250-2052 fact that no permits had been issued for site modification. A major portion of
a “wellfield protection area”. year time of travel while dark blue denotes one year time of travel (most sensitive area). this property lies in the floodplain, and the eastern boundary of the property
317.466.2320 lies adjacent to several MCC conservation easements which protect critical
People living and working in wellfields need to be The light blue zones on the map indicate a 5 year time
ephemeral wetlands and dense woodlands.
especially careful to keep contaminants off the ground of travel while the dark blue zones indicate 1 year time www.MudCreekConservancy.org
where they can seep into our underground drinking of travel. In other words, liquids on the surface of a MCC has learned that on April 26th, Mann Properties filed a proposed site
water supply. Substances such as furniture strippers, wellfield protection area will take anywhere from 1 to Frank@MudCreekConservancy.org plan with the City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan
lawn and garden chemicals, cleaning chemicals and 5 years to reach the aquifer below. Development calling for the construction of 45 homes. (See next page)
Critical Habitat Threatened by High Density Development Eagle Scouts Make Big MCC Earth Day Raises
(Continued from previous page)
MCC and SRA officers have written a joint letter to Environmental Management (IDEM) administrators as
Impact on Invasives Funds and Awareness
City of Indianapolis planners, Indiana Department of well as officials at the Federal Emergency Local Eagle Scout candidates Patrick Miller and Andrew Despite snow showers and frigid temperatures,
Natural Resources (IDNR) and Indiana Department of Management Administration (FEMA) posing the Dempsey spent several weekends in April and May Indiana Earth Day saw almost as many visitors this
following questions regarding the disposition of this removing invasive garlic mustard from MCC's protected year as in the past. MCC's theme "Help Save
property: properties. The scouts diligent efforts began to show Someplace Special" raised awareness about our
in early May, as abundant patches of native wildflowers mission, with many visitors being introduced to
Filing of the required IDEM permits: began to blossom where garlic mustard had completely MCC for the first time.
crowded out competing species in years past.
♦ The Rule 5 Notice of Intent letter states that MCC's fund-raising efforts this year were a big hit
any "project site owner" engaged in construction Patrick and Andrew supervised teams of scouts, parents with attendees. Dawn Ryan, owner of Elite Chair
related activities that disturbs one or more and other helpers to scour the properties for garlic Massage, donated an entire afternoon of her talents
acres of land must be required to obtain a mustard and trash, remove the plants complete with and energy giving weary Earth Day visitors chair
"Rule 5" storm water runoff permit. root systems and arrange for disposal of the massages. With a suggested donation of $1 per
accumulated refuse. A big thanks to Patrick, Andrew minute, funds accrued quickly to MCC's land
♦ A Public Water System Certification of and their respective teams of helpers! acquisition fund. Thanks for all of your time and
MCC Demonstration of Capacity is required. effort on behalf of MCC, Dawn!
♦ A permit for discharges of Dredged or Fill
Materials to Waters of the State and State Isolated
What is a Wellfield
Wetlands is required. Protection Area?
Driving around the Mud Creek watershed, one
reek

Why have none of these required IDEM permits and


certifications been applied for? frequently comes across the following sign. Aside
from preserving the watershed's splendid
ud C

Floodway / flood fringe delineation biodiversity, MCC's conservation acreage also helps
ng M

The floodway (lowest portion of the floodplain) can


not be filled without a DNR permit. Furthermore, even
ddli

with a permit, no habitable structures can be built in


the floodway. Scouts haul bags of garlic mustard (above)
stra

abundant wildflowers on the properties in early May (below)


Why has no stake survey been conducted by the
ents

developer to delineate the floodway from the


remainder of the floodplain?
sem

FEMA Wetland Statutes


protect the City of Indianapolis's water supply. In
n Ea

Filling of this acreage is in direct violation of FEMA


this article we examine the concept of a Wellfield
wetland statutes, specifically, Executive Order 11990.
Protection Area and why it is important. (See back
atio

This statute's purpose is to "minimize the destruction,


page.)
loss or degradation of wetlands and to preserve and
serv

enhance the natural and beneficial values of


wetlands". About the Newsletter
Con

The Tributary is published and mailed quarterly to


What action will be taken by FEMA to rectify these
MCC members and other interested parties. All
MCC

violations?
design, production and mailing costs are donated.
MCC and SRA will continue to update our members If you would prefer to receive our newsletter via
regarding the status of this parcel and the proposed email as an Adobe Acrobat file to help cut down on
development. mailing costs please contact us at the following
email address: frank@mudcreekconservancy.org.

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