CHAPTER 1. LEGISLATIVE POLICY
IC 14-32
ARTICLE 32. SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
IC 14-32-1
Chapter 1. Legislative Policy
IC 14-32-1-1
Conservation declarations
Sec. 1. The following are declared as a matter of legislativedetermination:
(1) That the land and water resources of Indiana are among thebasic assets of Indiana and that the proper management of theseresources is necessary to protect and promote the health, safety,and general welfare of the people of Indiana.
(2) That improper land use practices and failure to control anduse rainfall and runoff water cause and contribute todeterioration and waste of these resources of Indiana.
(3) That the breaking of natural grass, plant, and forest coverhas interfered with the natural factors of soil stabilization,causing loosening of soil and exhaustion of humus anddeveloping a soil condition that favors excessive runoff anderosion, with the following results:
(A) The topsoil is being blown and washed out of the fieldsand pastures.
(B) There has been an accelerated washing of sloping fields.
(C) These processes of erosion by wind and water speed upwith removal of the topsoil, exposing the less absorptive,less protective, less productive, and more erosive subsoil.
(4) That valuable water resources are being lost causingdamages in watersheds.
(5) That failure by a land occupier to properly manage the soiland water causes a washing and blowing of these resources ontoother land and makes the conservation of these resources on theother land more difficult.
(6) That the consequences of soil erosion and failure to controland use rainfall and runoff water are the following:
(A) The silting and sedimentation of stream channels,reservoirs, dams, ditches, and harbors.
(B) The loss of fertile soil material.
(C) The piling up of soil on lower slopes and the depositover alluvial plains.
(D) The reduction in productivity or outright ruin of bottomland by flooding and overwash of poor subsoil material,sand, and gravel swept out of the hills.
(E) The deterioration of soil and the soil's fertility,deterioration of crops grown, and reduction in crop yields.
(F) The loss of soil and water that causes destruction of foodand cover for wildlife.
(G) A blowing and washing of soil into streams and lakes
that silts over spawning beds and destroys water plants,diminishing the food supply of fish.
(H) A diminishing of the underground water reserve and lossof surplus rainfall runoff causing water shortages,intensifying periods of drought, and causing crop failures.
(I) An increase in the speed and volume of rainfall runoff,causing severe and increasing floods.
(J) Economic hardship for those attempting to farm land thatis eroded or subject to frequent flooding.
(K) Damage to roads, highways, railways, farm buildings,and other property from floods and from dust storms.
(L) Losses in navigation, hydroelectric power, municipalwater supply, recreational water development, irrigationdevelopments, farming, and grazing.
(7) That to conserve soil and water resources, control andprevent soil erosion, protect water quality, reduce flooddamage, and further the conservation development, use, anddisposal of water, it is necessary that:
(A) land use practices contributing to soil and waterwastage, water quality impairment, and soil erosion bediscouraged and discontinued; and
(B) appropriate soil and water conserving land use practicesand works of improvement for flood prevention or theconservation development, use, and disposal of water beadopted and carried out.
(8) That among the procedures necessary for widespreadadoption are the following:
(A) Carrying on of engineering operations such as theconstruction of flood preventing reservoirs and channels,terraces, terrace outlets, check dams, dikes, ponds, ditches,and similar operations.
(B) The use of soil protecting agronomic practices, such asstrip cropping, contour cropping, and conservation tillage.
(C) Land irrigation.
(D) Seeding and planting of sloping, abandoned, or erodedland to water-conserving and erosion-preventing plants,trees, and grasses.
(E) Forestation and reforestation.
(F) Rotation of crops.
(G) Soil stabilization with trees, grasses, legumes, and otherthick-growing, soil-holding crops.
(H) Retardation of runoff by impounding the runoff waterbehind structures, by increasing the absorption of rainfall,and by retiring from cultivation all steep, highly erosiveareas and areas already badly eroded.
(I) The use of water quality protection practices, includingnutrient and pesticide management on all lands.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997, SEC.7;P.L.175-2006, SEC.2.
IC 14-32-1-2
Conservation policies
Sec. 2. In light of the determination set forth in section 1 of thischapter, it is the policy of the general assembly to provide for theproper management of soil and water resources, the control andprevention of soil erosion, the prevention of flood water andsediment damage, the prevention of water quality impairment, andthe conservation development, use, and disposal of water in thewatersheds of Indiana to accomplish the following:
(1) Conserve the natural resources, including wildlife.
(2) Control floods.
(3) Prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs.
(4) Assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers and harbors.
(5) Protect the water quality of lakes and streams.
(6) Protect the tax base.
(7) Protect public land.
(8) Protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfareof the people of Indiana.
(9) Protect a high quality water resource.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997, SEC.8;P.L.175-2006, SEC.3.