Hoosier Environmental Council

10/11/2026

Have you heard of the herbicide Atrazine? Check out this article to learn about what it is - and how it's affecting the Midwest's waterways.

Atrazine, banned in 60 countries, polluting rivers at levels that can harm wildlife and may threaten human health

10/10/2026

We're so excited to have Kayla Wright, a Community Resilience Specialist with Purdue Extension, join us for our Energy Storage 101 webinar on October 20th! She brings battery expertise with community focus. 🔋

Energy storage allows solar energy to be used even when the sun isn't shining. Don't miss out – register today and get your questions answered! What would you like to know about battery storage in Indiana?

In Energy Storage 101, we'll cover:
🔹How energy storage works and safety considerations
🔹 How projects move through local approval processes
🔹 How energy storage fits into Indiana's broader energy planning
🔹 What local officials and residents need to know

🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/energystorage101 (or under Events in our Linktree in our bio)
📅 Tuesday, October 20th | 12:00 PM ET

10/09/2026

Public comments are due TODAY!

86% of freshwater wetlands and 79% of streams in the nation are at risk of being excluded from the Clean Water Act under a proposed EPA rule. This leaves critical – and dwindling – wetland habitats in Indiana open to pollution and development without mitigation.

You can make a difference in less than 60 seconds. Submit a public comment using the Natural Resource Defense Council’s handy tool. https://tinyurl.com/bdztfspp

Learn more in our blog post: https://www.hecweb.org/2026/09/16/proposed-rule-could-exempt-virtually-all-wetlands-without-permanent-water-from-protection/

10/08/2026

Don’t put it off - just 60 seconds of your time makes a difference. https://ow.ly/ILOt50ZUiCq

86% of freshwater wetlands and 79% of streams in the nation are at risk of being excluded from the Clean Water Act under a proposed EPA rule. That means pollution and unmitigated development for critical habitat.

Public comments are due TOMORROW, October 9. Use the Natural Resource Defense Council’s handy tool to submit your comment opposing this rule: https://ow.ly/ILOt50ZUiCq

10/08/2026

Did you know it's DAF (Donor Advised Funds) Day? A donor advised fund is a charitable giving account that allows donors to contribute assets to a charitable fund and recommend grants to eligible nonprofits over time.

If you have a DAF, today is a great time to consider where you'd like your next grant to make an impact. For HEC, DAF grants provided important support for the work we do to protect Indiana's environment. And if you're not familiar with DAFs, today is a great day to learn more about how they can fit into your charitable giving strategy. https://ow.ly/IVQj50ZV3jR

10/07/2026

86% of freshwater wetlands and 79% of streams in the nation are at risk of being excluded from the Clean Water Act under a proposed EPA rule.

You can make a difference in less than 60 seconds. Submit a public comment to protect our wetlands from pollution and development without mitigation using the Natural Resource Defense Council’s handy tool. https://ow.ly/uOBz50ZUiys

Comments are due by this Friday, October 9. Submit and share accordingly. 💕

Learn more from our blog post: https://ow.ly/C4PQ50ZUiyr

10/06/2026

Please join HEC in welcoming our newest staff member, Phoenix Schlebecker, who joins our team as our Events and Outreach Senior Coordinator! ✨

In this role, Phoenix will help to help grow and energize HEC's community engagement efforts in support of a more sustainable future for Indiana.

Phoenix is a public health professional with a background in advocacy, community engagement, and applied research focused on health equity. They have spent the past several years working in HIV policy advocacy, coordinating statewide outreach opportunities, planning HIV advocacy events, developing educational materials, facilitating trainings, and coaching community members with HIV on how to engage effectively with policymakers. Their work has centered on translating complex research and policy issues into accessible information and building connections between advocates, communities, and decision-makers.

Phoenix holds a B.A. in Sociology from IU Indianapolis and is working to complete an M.A. in Medical Sociology, with their thesis exploring the impact of state-level LGBTQ+ policies on mental health outcomes for sexual and gender minority youth. In their spare time they enjoy kayaking and hiking in Indiana’s beautiful state parks with their partner, two step-kiddos and their dog.

Welcome, Phoenix! We are excited to have you on the team and for Indiana to benefit from your expertise!

10/05/2026

Wetlands are in danger – but you can take action https://ow.ly/FOnU50ZUivg

The EPA has proposed a rule that would exempt 86% of freshwater wetlands in the US and 79% of streams from Clean Water Act protections. This leaves critical – and dwindling – wetland habitats in Indiana open to pollution and development without mitigation.

Public comments are due this Friday, October 9th. Use the Natural Resource Defense Council’s handy tool to submit a public comment opposing this rule: https://ow.ly/FOnU50ZUivg

Learn more from our blog post: https://ow.ly/xQVI50ZUivf

Wetlands Not Warehouses: Franklin Township, White River Alliance, Friends of White River, Little River Wetlands Project, Indiana Wildlife Federation

10/04/2026

Are you sure you're ready for election day on November 3rd? Show up to the polls prepared and take a moment to verify that your voter registration is up to date at indianavoters.in.gov by tomorrow evening. The environment is counting on you!

10/03/2026

The EPA has proposed a rule that would exempt 86% of freshwater wetlands in the US and 79% of streams from Clean Water Act protections. This leaves critical – and dwindling – wetland habitats in Indiana open to pollution and development without mitigation.

In less than one minute, stand up for our nation’s wetlands. Use the Natural Resource Defense Council’s handy tool to submit a public comment opposing this rule: https://tinyurl.com/bdztfspp

Learn more from our blog post: https://www.hecweb.org/2026/09/16/proposed-rule-could-exempt-virtually-all-wetlands-without-permanent-water-from-protection/