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The Water Stewardship Committee (WSC) aims to safeguard Greater Lafayette’s water resources while embracing economic advancements that pave the way to a thriving and resilient future.
By advocating for pragmatic approaches to sustainable development, the WSC balances ecological integrity and community prosperity when evaluating proposed projects and policies that impact a vital resource.
The Water Stewardship Committee includes partners from the City of Lafayette Mayor’s Office, the City of West Lafayette Mayor’s Office, Tippecanoe County Commissioners, and the Greater Lafayette Commerce’s Executive Team.
The WSC takes a protective stance on all proposed projects and policies until the long-term impacts on our community’s environment and economy are known and research-informed decisions can be made.
Please connect with your local representatives to share your questions and perspectives about water stewardship in our community.
LEAP is an acronym for Limitless Exploration/Advance Pace, a program developed by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) which is designed to establish and make development-ready large (1,000-acre+) tracts of land, often referred to as “mega-sites.”
Many corporations are seeking vast tracts of land to build new state-of-the-art research and development and manufacturing facilities. Requests for 500 to 1,000-acre+ sites are becoming more common. To meet the speed of the businesses seeking the locations, developers of these “mega” sites need to have land acquisition in order and the proper zoning in place. They also need sufficient utility service, as well as other infrastructure, in place to qualify for the site selection process. The IEDC developed the LEAP program to enable the State of Indiana to compete for these “mega” corporate attractions and investment opportunities. They also provide powerful opportunities to re-shore production and critical industry, support the regional supply chain, and grow regional economies.
The IEDC says LEAP districts will create new jobs in future-focused industries like microelectronics, leading to more economic opportunities. As LEAP Lebanon and its companies scale, they will create a new tax base and higher-wage jobs. With a minimum of four new ancillary jobs created for each new job in the district, the entire corridor from Lebanon to Greater Lafayette will benefit from this new influx of careers.
The Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace (LEAP) Pipeline was proposed by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to transport water from Tippecanoe County to fulfill the needs of a planned industrial park in Lebanon, Indiana. This proposal is under review, and development has not begun.
In developing its plan for the LEAP-Lebanon mega site, the IEDC quickly realized it needed more water, electric, and gas utilities at the scale required to support many of the corporate attraction deals the state hoped to win. Citing a large semiconductor company’s potential interest, the IEDC began working to solve the need for more sufficient water. The search for possible sources of abundant groundwater leads the IEDC to investigate the shallow alluvial aquifers near the Wabash River in Tippecanoe County. The IEDC contracted Intera, an environmental and water resource consulting firm, to do test wells along the Wabash, just West of Lafayette, and provide an assessment of the volume of water that could be withdrawn and piped approximately 45 miles to the LEAP Lebanon site. At one point, long before the analysis had been completed, state officials were quoted as saying they hoped to pump and pipe up to 100M gallons of water a day out of the Wabash to meet the needs of the LEAP Lebanon site and those companies interested in locating there.
The environmental impact of the proposed LEAP Pipeline is currently unknown. Multiple studies are underway to better assess its potential impact.
One study conducted by Intera for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has been completed. The WSC has commissioned a Boston environmental & engineering consultancy to do a peer review of the Intera study. This information will be available soon.
No. Timelines would not be created until a project is approved.
There are three main water studies related to the LEAP Lebanon district and the proposed pipeline:
The INTERA Study: Conducted by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), this study assesses the water availability in central Indiana, particularly in the Greater Lafayette area, to support regional development and the LEAP district.
The IFA North Central Indiana Water Study: Led by the Indiana Finance Authority, this study focuses on understanding future groundwater and surface water demands and availability across 15 counties, including the area around Lafayette, to facilitate sustainable water resource management.
The IFA Wabash Headwaters Water Study: Also managed by the Indiana Finance Authority, this study examines water demand and supply in the headwaters region of the Wabash, which may impact or contribute to the water resources available for the LEAP district and broader central Indiana area.
These studies collectively aim to provide a comprehensive view of the region’s water resources to inform state policy development and decisions about proposed pipelines and the growth and sustainability of the LEAP Lebanon development district.
Learn more on our water studies page.
The Intera Study is a water study conducted by Intera, an environmental and water resource consulting firm, on behalf of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). The study is focused on the Greater Lafayette Region, particularly in relation to the development of the LEAP (Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace) District in Lebanon, Indiana. Its primary goal is to assess the availability of water resources to support future growth and development of LEAP Lebanon, as well as future water challenges facing the central Indiana and the Indianapolis metro area.
The primary goal of the IFA’s North Central Indiana Water Study is to improve the understanding of estimated future groundwater and surface water demand and availability within the public water utility sector so that a gap analysis can be conducted. The questions the study is looking to answer include: How much water is currently available? Will there be enough water to meet the 50-year Public Water Supply needs?
The study will examine the 50-year demand and supply availability in the watersheds, which are primarily located in Boone, Clinton, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Kosciusko, Montgomery, Parke, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Warren, and White counties.
It is important to note, this study is not a continuation of any water related investigations that may have been conducted in the region. However, all relevant data will be evaluated for inclusion in the IFA’s final report.
The primary goal of the IFA’s Wabash Headwaters Water Study is to improve the understanding of estimated future groundwater and surface water demand and availability within the public water utility sector so that a gap analysis can be conducted. The questions the study is looking to answer include: How much water is currently available? Will there be enough water to meet the 50-year Public Water Supply needs?
The Study will examine the 50-year demand and supply availability in the watersheds, which are primarily located in Blackford, Carroll, Cass, Grant, Howard, Huntington, Jay, Miami, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley counties.
It is important to note, this study is not a continuation of any water related investigations that may have been conducted in the region. However, all relevant data will be evaluated for inclusion in the IFA’s final report.
The regional water studies conducted by the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) and the Intera Study led by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) are designed to provide state leaders with critical data and insights into the water resources of Indiana. The findings from these studies will equip decision-makers with the necessary information to make informed choices regarding the management and utilization of water resources across the state. This includes planning for sustainable water supply, addressing future water demands, and developing infrastructure projects. These studies aim to ensure that water resource decisions are based on sound scientific data and contribute to the long-term viability and growth of the state.