In recent news, it has become apparent the Amazon Hyperscale Data Center in Northern Indiana has purchased “wetland credits” in the Kankakee Valley area, further south of Data Centers. What most people don’t realize, is that the Northern Indiana’s Valparaiso Moraine— serves as a critical continental drainage divide, referred to as a “split moraine” system, where a single, massive ridge allows water to flow in completely Opposite Directions. Hobart’s watershed flows north and Kankakee’s watershed flows south. These wetland offsets, connected to Northern Indiana Data Centers, eventually provide ecological benefits in Illinois. Wetland offsets restore water storage, habitat, groundwater recharge, and water quality watershed that flows downstream – into Illinois.
These Mitigation credits that are being conducted in the Kankakee service area, influence ecological systems that downstream (Southwest) benefiting Illinois, not Northern Indiana. And, this is exactly why some Northwest Indiana residents and environmental groups have criticized the arrangement. Their argument is that while regional ecosystems may benefit, the people living next to the affected wetlands still experience the local impacts — loss of nearby wetland functions, construction disturbance, light, noise, air pollution and landscape changes—while the “restoration” benefits occurs hundreds of miles away.
As a matter of fact the Kankakee River Watershed can NEVER flow north, even during sever storms. The Kankakee River – Wikipedia is separated from the Lake Michigan watershed by a permanent geographical barrier—a system of moraines and low ridges that act as the continental divide
The wetland mitigation project focuses on 425 acres known as the Big Eastern property in Starke County, which was acquired by the Shirley Heinze Land Trust last year. It was previously owned and stewarded by the Lucas family for more than 60 years. Restoration work is scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2031 and will include removing invasive species, managing forest growth and reestablishing native woodlands and sand prairie habitats near the Bogus Run watershed.
Amazon Project leaders estimate the effort could return more than 110 million gallons of water to the local ecosystem annually by improving soil absorption and reducing runoff. That volume is roughly equivalent to the yearly water use of about 1,000 households.
The wetland credits specifically for the Hobart Data Center are under review now, and will be available at a later date.
The Valparaiso Moraine known as the St. Lawrence River Divide bisects Northwest Indiana, dictating that rain falling on opposite sides of this ridge flows into completely into different oceans. Because this moraine is an elevated ridge of glacial sand and clay, its crest acts like a natural roofline. Water hitting the northern slope flows toward Lake Michigan and into the Atlantic Ocean, while water hitting the southern slope travels to the Mississippi River and into the Gulf of Mexico.
This Map Shows that the Kankakee Watershed barely touches Lake County, Indiana.
Concerns over resource consumption and environmental impacts have led nearly a dozen Indiana counties to adopt temporary moratoriums on new data center construction while officials study potential effects. This project is referred to as a “Smart Wetland,” by Amazon, and is the third project in Northern Indiana.
Supporters of the restoration effort say the project will provide long-term environmental benefits while helping offset some of the water demands associated with expanding digital infrastructure.
Sources: InkfreePress
Data Center Dynamics
MORE INFO REGARDING WETLAND CREDITS:
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency,
under federal regulations and most state environmental laws, data center wetland mitigation credits generally must be purchased and applied within the same watershed or predefined geographic service area where the environmental impact occurs.
Regulatory Oversight:
The US EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintain strict Geographic Service Areas (GSAs) for approved mitigation banks.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE OUT OF BASIN RULE . . .
Out-of-Basin Exceptions: In rare cases, if no suitable local banks are available, regulators might grant a variance or purchase exception to use a bank in an adjacent watershed, but this typically requires a rigorous “practicability” review and higher mitigation ratios.
Amazon’s Published Goals: “Amazon explicitly picks projects that can move the needle toward their replenishing the same location where the Data Center is located.” recovering over 210 million gallons of local Indiana water annually.
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