News

 

Community Meeting with Citizens Energy Group and Lebanon Utilities scheduled for February 10 at New Location

 

Thank you for your continued passionate engagement to learn more about the LEAP water and wastewater projects and their potential impact on the park. Your advocacy has incentivized public discussion of our topics at an upcoming City Council committee meeting AND a rescheduled public session in Pike Township.  THIS IS PROGRESS and your voice and presence are welcome!!  

 

 

 

Park neighbors were recently presented with paperwork to immediately sell easements to Citizens Water for new high-pressure water lines to connect to Lebanon (See Map Below). They were told the “Citizens Lebanon Water Supply Program” will support the new LEAP industrial park and is committed to provide 25 million gallons of water per day (mgd). With no prior knowledge of the project, some have contacted the Eagle Creek Advisory Committee, the Foundation’s arm which reviews policy proposals and potential changes related to the park and reservoir. We have reached out to Citizens, the City and state officials to learn more.

 

Homeowners have been told the work installing pipes will commence “just after the first of the year,” during winter months. Online information indicates that Citizens Water also plans to expand the TW Moses Water Treatment Plant at 56th Street and Dandy Trail, however no public plans have been released, as has been customary with past plant upgrades and changes. Citizens lists the current daily treatment capacity of the Moses plant at 22.5 million gallons per day.

 

Maintaining water levels in the reservoir to meet contractual environmental obligations (to provide adequate flow to downstream users) can be tenuous with current drought conditions, even with existing water production levels and withdrawals from the reservoir. Several questions arise: Where will the “additional” water source come from? And how much? Do they also plan to drill wells? Dredge the reservoir? Where will the used water/wastewater from LEAP be discharged? Into Eagle Creek reservoir?

 

Because our charter charges us with preserving, protecting and enhancing the park and reservoir, we believe more transparent communication from Citizens/IEDC with the City, users of Eagle Creek Park, and area residents -- not just the pipeline property owners-- is appropriate. The Advisory Committee is working to gather additional information and collaborate with other interested organizations.

 

Should you wish to encourage more information be made public regarding this project, please visit here for contact information of elected city and state officials. Again, landowners were told that Citizens plans to install pipe in less than two months, indicating many decisions have already been made. Information must be made available to validate their case, demonstrating there is sufficient water availability to export millions of gallons each day without negative impacts to the reservoir, park, and current water customers.

 

Many additional data centers and industrial projects have already been proposed in Central Indiana, including the original estimates that LEAP would need 100 mgd – not just the 25 million proposed here. Responsible water resource management is a necessity -- not an option, and we who value our precious park resources would like to better understand what seem to be major plans with potential long-term impact to an irreplaceable Central Indiana ecosystem. The Pike Township Residents Association (PRTA) is joining us in this quest, and we, the Advisory Committee, pledge to provide future updates.

 

Should you have any questions, please reach out to: LEAP@eaglecreekpark.org

 

It's now possible for you to upload photographs from around the neighborhood.  Please keep them appropriate to the target audience. 

 

 

I'd also suggest you do not include names.  We have established a category for Holiday, Yard Sale, and the Block Party photographs.  All images will be reviewed before they are made public.