In January 1998, IDEM and EPA initiated a series of studies to evaluate wetland regulation and mitigation, identify potential problems and formulate solutions. The wetland migration site in Dearborn County was created in 1997 with the construction of the Argosy Casino. The wetland is located behind the Casino, in bottomlands that are sporadically flooded by the Ohio River. The new wetland is larger than 10 acres divided into some two or three sites. Overall the wetland is greater than average size for a mitigation wetland in the State of Indiana.
Success is uncertain due to damage caused by birds and drought conditions.
Another site along the Laughery Creek, in Ohio County is also identified as wetland a mitigation location due to construction of a roadway. The inventory was created as part of the Emergency Planning and Right to Know Act, which allows citizens to be generally aware of industrial releases. The TRI reports include information on the manufacturer's release of the listed toxic chemicals to the environment, the management of wastes containing these chemicals and annual changes in the production of products associated with these toxic chemicals. Manufactures must meet criteria such as the number of employees and amount of release to be required to submit a report. Dearborn County is recorded as having 100,000 to 500,000 pounds of toxic chemical releases reported from manufactures.