To some, the Mounds Lake Reservoir project is an intriguing, potential game-changer for the economy of the Anderson area.
To others, it is a boondoggle that would harm the environment, threaten historical assets and needlessly uproot residents and businesses.
Those who are opposed to such projects naturally want to kill them as soon as possible. Those who are interested in such proposals prefer to see them thoroughly studied before they are brought to life — or put to death.
In this case, the Mounds Lake Reservoir project shows enough promise that it is too early to kill it — and too early to commit fully to it.
The recently released report on the Phase II project feasibility study, commissioned by the Madison County Corporation for Economic Development and funded through a $600,000 grant from the Indiana Finance Authority, turns up as many questions as it answers.
The study does indicate that the project could be viable. But a myriad of big “ifs” remain. Chief among them:
• How would the building and maintenance of the reservoir be funded? The reservoir is projected to cost nearly half a billion dollars.
• Who will buy the water that the reservoir would store for the use of the Indianapolis area?
• Could the project survive the permitting stage, showing strong mitigation of possible negative environmental and community impacts?
To review, Mounds Lake Reservoir would dam the White River near the Irondale neighborhood in Anderson. The lake would extend seven miles from Anderson to the Yorktown area. It would cover 2,100 acres. The flooded area would include Mounds Mall, adjacent businesses and an estimated 400 homes.
Proponents say that, in addition to supplying water for the growing needs of the central Indiana area, Mounds Lake would drive up real estate values, draw visitors for recreation and spur retail growth and jobs.
Opponents — represented by several groups that are concerned about the White River, Mounds State Park, the environment, local residents and businesses in the reservoir area and the financial aspects of the project — have a litany of concerns. The local Heart of the River group and statewide organizations such as the Hoosier Environmental Council and Citizens Action Coalition are publicly opposed to the reservoir.
Their concerns are legitimate and must be addressed as the project moves forward.
For the project to progress, a 12-member commission must be formed by the Madison and Delaware county boards of commissioners and the two county councils, as well as the councils of Anderson, Daleville, Chesterfield and Yorktown. The commission would ultimately decide whether to pursue the project and would “construct, own and operate a surface water treatment/production facility,” according to the executive summary of the Phase II report.
The Mounds Lake Commission would also “hire an executive team to lead the local effort of preliminary design and permitting” in Phase III of the project.
Each of these government units is expected to consider an ordinance in March to form the Mounds Lake Commission. Opponents, as they should, will fight hard to keep the commission from being formed.
But the government units should give strong consideration to creating the commission. Otherwise, a project that shows great promise will die an untimely death.