STOP THE ALLEN COUNTY QUARRY.

Join us in the fight against the quarry and asphalt/concrete plant set to be dug in the Little River floodplain valley of Indiana - south of highway 24, north of Ernst road, west of I-69, and east of Aboite Road in Allen County.Once the quarry is dug, the scarred landscape, degraded water resources, and diminished quality of life will remain for decades, far outweighing any short-term economic promises.Our community deserves better—clean air, safe water, productive land, and a healthy future for our families.

Read about the fight in the news:

Land and Water Damage

In karst terrain (characterized by sinkholes, caves, and direct underground water flow—prevalent in parts of Indiana), quarries cause severe disruption:Dewatering pumps out groundwater, creating large “cones of depression” that can lower water tables by 60–80 feet even a half-mile away. This dries up springs, wetlands, and perennial streams, reverses natural flow directions, and triggers sinkhole collapses. Blasting opens new pathways for contaminants, spiking turbidity (cloudiness) in springs and aquifers far beyond normal levels. In monitored cases, this has diverted up to 90% of a groundwater basin’s flow into the pit and raised downstream water temperatures, harming aquatic life. Sediment runoff and chemical leaching from blasts pollute surface and groundwater, with risks of permanent contamination in fragile karst systems where pollutants move quickly without natural filtration.These changes scar productive farmland or natural landscapes into barren pits, with effects that can last decades or permanently alter local hydrology and ecosystems.

Health Risks

Quarry operations generate significant airborne dust (including fine silica particles) from blasting, crushing, and truck traffic. Residents nearby often face higher rates of respiratory issues, such as worsened asthma, chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and other breathing problems—effects shown in studies of communities living close to quarries. Blasting also releases chemical contaminants and fine particles that can affect air quality. These invisible threats don’t stay contained; dust and pollutants spread into homes, schools, and daily life, posing risks especially to children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.

Community and Economic Detriments

Daily operations bring constant heavy truck traffic (often 100+ semis), noise from blasting and machinery, vibration, and light pollution from 24/7 activity. Blasting creates ground vibrations and airblast that residents feel as shaking, rattling windows, and structural stress—potentially leading to cosmetic cracks in homes over time.Property values near active or proposed quarries frequently drop significantly (studies show reductions ranging from 14–40% or more depending on proximity, due to noise, dust, traffic, visual blight, and water concerns). These losses can persist for decades and affect hundreds of homes, representing major economic harm to families and the local tax base.Overall, the WNR Quarry Memo highlights how these externalities—watershed damage, massive sediment/turbidity issues, dewatering-induced sinkholes (up to ~1,000 in some cases), and compounded property value hits exceeding $1.2 billion in analogous scenarios—far outweigh any short-term gains. Once dug, the quarry irreversibly changes the character of a peaceful rural or small-city area like yours, with impacts that are hard to fully mitigate.