Ecologist responsibilities:
- Review, approve, and submit
- Waters of the U.S. reports (WOTUS)
- Evaluate project scope and resource impacts to determine required waterway permits
- Waterway permit applications (IDEM 401/Isolated Wetland, USACE 404-408, USCG Section 10, IDNR CIF, County Regulated Drain, etc)
- Karst investigation reports
- Environmental mitigation plans and monitoring/maintenance reports for more than 300 stream, wetland, floodway, and bat mitigation properties throughout the State
- Advise INDOT construction and maintenance staff on waterway permit compliance
- Perform monitoring of environmental mitigation sites and prepare annual reports for submission to permitting agencies
- Oversees INDOT compliance with the Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and agency MOUs
Ecological Resources
Investigating, documenting, and minimizing impacts to ecological resources during INDOT transportation projects
- NEW Guidance for Waters Resource Investigations
- Protection of Karst Features During Project Development, Construction, and Post-Construction.
- Protected Species Information
- Identification of Bat and Bird use of INDOT Structures
- Swallow Nesting Stages
- Environmental Policy Office (under Protected Species Information)
Waterway Permitting
Permitting for impacts to regulated resources (streams, wetlands, floodways, forest) for INDOT transportation projects through regulatory agencies (IDEM, USACE, IDNR, USFWS, USCG, Counties)
- Preliminary Permit Determination Checklist (Revised 4/16/2026)
- Preparing INDOT Section 401 and State Regulated Resource Permit Applications within IDEM’s Regulatory ePortal – nViro (Revised 9/26/2026)
- 401/404 Permit Application Checklist (Revised 8/31/2026)
- Construction in a Floodway (CIF) Permit Application Checklist (Revised 12/10/2025)
- NEW Impact Summary Tables for Permit Applications (Revised 8/24/2026)
- Intro to Waterway Permitting for Project Managers
- Intro to Waterway Permitting for Construction
Environmental Mitigation
Mitigation to offset impacts to regulated resources (streams, wetlands, forest) for INDOT transportation projects
- Regulatory In-lieu Fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS)
- IN SWMP In-lieu Fee Payment Process
- INDOT Use of DNR In-lieu Fee Floodway Mitigation (CIF)
- Natural Resources Commission Bulletin 17: Habitat Mitigation Guidelines
- Mitigation and Monitoring Plan Checklist
- Mature Mitigation Site Transfer Program
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Website
- USACE Standard Permit Application and Instructions
- USACE Wetland Delineation Regions
- Regional Supplements to Corps Delineation Manual
- IDNR General Licenses and Exemptions
- IDNR Water Permit Programs
- IDNR Floodplain Information Portal
- IDNR DOW Unity Page
- IDEM Understanding State Regulated Wetland Exemptions
- IDEM Section 401 Water Quality Certification
- USCG Bridge Permitting
- USGS StreamStats
Contact Information
Sandra Bowman
Manager-Ecology & Permits
Indiana Department of Transportation
100 N. Senate Ave. IGCN 758-ES
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-416-2509
sbowman@indot.in.gov
