The Indiana Finance Authority will now be overseeing this water study as a part of a larger regional water study in Indiana.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) — On Monday, November 13th, Governor Eric Holcomb directed the Indiana Finance Authority to begin “exclusive oversight” of the INTERA water supply study.
The IFA has no involvement in the LEAP Project. Their role is to oversee the INTERA water study as part of a larger regional water study, the North Central Water Study.
Lafayette Mayor, Tony Roswarski, says this is a step in the right direction.
“I thought it was a positive direction, but immediately I don’t think it’s enough. I think it’s a start, but a project like that is going to take some time,” said Roswarski.
One of Roswarski’s biggest concerns has been the lack of transparency regarding the LEAP Project, and the INTERA water study. Under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, the IFA has to release the data from the study.
The IFA told News 18, in a statement “INTERA is nearly complete with the work related specifically to the water supply associated with the aquifer that lied adjacent to the Wabash River in Tippecanoe County. IEDC has been sharing information from the INTERA data with IFA as that data has become available and shared publicly.”
Roswarski says there needs to be a longer term approach.
“You can’t just think five, 10 or even 20 years down the road. You need to be thinking 50 to 100 years down the road, and what the impact might be on the community,” said Roswarski.
The North Central water study aims to find out the demand and availability of estimated future ground and surface water. The study will look at watersheds located in Tippecanoe County and 12 other surrounding counties.
With more eyes fixed in on water in Tippecanoe County, Roswarski says a moratorium is more important now than ever.
I think it’s good we have a moratorium on the timing because if we don’t it feels to me and I think most of our citizens, it seems like they’ve made up their mind. I don’t think it sends the right message of trust and transparency.
The Tippecanoe County Board of Commissioners will vote on first reading of a newly introduced ordinance that would block the transfer of large amounts of water on Monday, November 20. The IFA says the larger regional study will launch by the end of 2023. It will be fully complete by the fall of 2024.
“I just don’t think feel like anybody has enough information to be making these kind of decisions or moving forward with the project until all of that is done,” Roswarski said.
