Protect Eagle Creek’s Mudflats, Protect Our Birds

Image: Lesser Yellowlegs utilizing critical stopover habitat at Eagle Creek Park. Photo by Ryan Sanderson.

Eagle Creek Park’s mudflats are critical feeding and resting habitat for migrating and resident birds. New information about the LEAP Project shows plans withdraw and to discharge large volumes of treated wastewater into that area, which could change the mudflats and expose birds to contaminants that treatment plants may not fully remove. The Indiana Audubon Board of Directors has voted to support the local partners opposing this plan, and we will remain actively engaged as events unfold.

Indiana Audubon Board Statement

Indiana Audubon Society stands with the Amos Butler Audubon Society, the Eagle Creek Advisory Committee, and other local partners in opposing plans to discharge wastewater into the north end of Eagle Creek Reservoir. Eagle Creek Park and its aquatic habitats are critical habitat for migrating and resident birds, and any plan that risks degrading those habitats is incompatible with our mission to preserve, protect, and restore bird habitat across Indiana.

We call on project proponents, local government, and state agencies to respect and prioritize the ecological value of Eagle Creek Park as they make decisions. Indiana Audubon will remain actively engaged and coordinated with local partners as events unfold.

Additional Resources

Learn More:

• Amos Butler Audubon Society Advisory Committee Statement
• Eagle Creek Park Foundation Advisory Committee Project Statement
• $700 million project will send millions of gallons of water from Indy to LEAP district
• Crowd packs post-holiday meeting over Boone County LEAP wastewater concerns
• More than 200 residents voice concerns over Boone County project’s impact on Eagle Creek Reservoir

Take Action Now:

• Contact elected officials. Ask for full transparency, robust environmental review, and protections for Eagle Creek’s aquatic habitat.
  • Governor Mike Braun: https://www.in.gov/gov/contact-mike
  • Your state legislators: https://iga.in.gov/information/find-legislators
  • Mayor Hogsett: https://www.indy.gov/workflow/write-to-the-mayor
  • The Indianapolis City-County Council office: 317-327-4242
• Attend the public meeting. The Eagle Creek Advisory Committee has organized public meetings (see their updates for dates and locations). Public participation is important for transparency and for making the ecological concerns heard.
• Share the message. Share a short post on Facebook, pairing it with a photo to give people an immediate sense of what’s at stake. For example: I bird @EagleCreekPark. The mudflats are essential habitat for migrating and resident birds. Please oppose the LEAP wastewater plan. #SaveEagleCreek