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What are headwaters?
Every river that flows has a beginning, and that beginning is referred to as a headwater. Headwaters are small streams that branch out from larger streams that feed into the main stem of a river, much like branches of a tree growing out of the main trunk.
A river may have multiple headwaters that can also be home to wetlands. Headwaters can be groundwater fed and flow year-round, have a seasonal flow, or rely solely on precipitation events. While headwaters may vary in flow, they do share a few things in common—they are the farthest points from the river, and they are critical to the health of downstream waterways.
What makes headwaters so special?
It is estimated that small headwaters make up approximately 75 percent of the total stream length in the United States, but the actual proportion may be higher due to headwaters often being unmapped. Because headwaters are smaller in size but cover larger areas, their environmental interactions vary significantly when compared to large river. For example, there are species of insects or plants that require a certain depth of water to thrive. Rivers are often much deeper than small headwater streams, leading to localized environmental differences in a river network.
Researchers in Australia conducted a study on headwaters and concluded that they disproportionally contribute to the health and biodiversity of waterways when compared to other locations in a river network. These small streams and wetlands provide crucial linkages between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, regulate nutrient flows in downstream waterways, store floodwater, recharge groundwater, purify and filter water, retain sediment, maintain biodiversity, and provide wildlife habitat. And since headwater streams are located at the beginnings of rivers, any direct impacts to headwaters are felt throughout the entire river network.
Threats to headwaters
Because many headwaters are small and non-permanent, they receive little protection under federal and state laws, and are regarded by many landowners as unimportant. For example, the state of Indiana does not regulate ephemeral streams or wetlands on farmland, where many headwaters are located. This leaves them at an increased risk of development, which means that large portion of ecologically valuable streams and wetlands in the state are at risk of disappearing.
LEAP Lebanon Innovation District
The proposed LEAP development in Lebanon, Indiana, is prime example of a potential threat to headwaters. The development site is approximately 9,000 acres in size and is situated on the headwaters of Sugar Creek. Many Hoosiers know Sugar Creek as one of the more pristine waterways in Indiana, flowing through Turkey Run and Shades State Parks, some of Indiana’s most beloved and high-quality recreational areas.
The development site contains three small streams—Deer Creek, Wolf Creek, and Prairie Creek—which all eventually flow into Sugar Creek. These streams are located on farmland, which means there is a possibility that the streams or any adjacent wetlands will be exempt from regulation under current federal and state laws. Current renderings of the development show that there are some proposed stream corridor and conservation buffers, though no formal commitments to protect these resources have been proposed.
Other renderings showing the land use demonstrate other plans for some of the headwaters on site.
The project has received substantial opposition from several local groups located in Boone County and Tippecanoe County. The Boone County Preservation Group, Stop the Water Steal, and the newly formed Wabash River Conservancy are all three spearheading the resistance to the LEAP project.
According to initial proposals, the project called for a large water pipeline that would withdraw water from the Teays aquifer near Lafayette in Tippecanoe County, which supplies water to the Wabash River. Opponents from those local groups are primarily concerned about the loss of farmland and the impact on the quality and quantity of water in the Wabash.
The development has since been put on hold due to poor planning and lack of water supplies, but several groups, including the Hoosier Environmental Council, are keeping a close eye on the project’s environmental issues, including its impact on headwaters.
What environmental impact would LEAP have on the headwaters to Sugar Creek?
The headwaters located on the LEAP development site are likely ephemeral and only flow in response to precipitation, which means they are adapted to periodic flooding events. Urbanization around the headwaters will change the nature of these streams. Potential environmental impacts include:
- Decreasing water quality downstream in Sugar Creek
- Increasing flooding downstream
- Increasing erosion and sedimentation
- Reducing habitat available for wildlife
What can the developers do to make the development more environmentally friendly?
- Consider alternative land uses surrounding the headwaters
- Implement ecologically appropriate buffers around all headwaters on site
- Plant natives and other plants that are beneficial for water quality
- Utilize green stormwater infrastructure
- Limit the amount of potential environmental pollutants that could runoff in stormwater
- Restrict the use of pesticides and herbicides on any lawns or other areas
- Restrict the amount of parking for cars to limit oil and grease runoff
What’s next?
Protecting headwaters is critical to sustaining the health of rivers, but many remained threatened due to a lack of legal protection and little social awareness of their environmental benefits. The proposed LEAP development in Lebanon is a great example of a development that threatens headwater ecosystems and water quality. Ensuring that these headwaters are protected to the upmost extent should be a top priority, which includes approaches like buffers and harmonious land uses. While the development is currently postponed, many groups are keeping a close eye on the how it progresses, including Hoosier Environmental Council.