Short answer: Yes, it would be prohibited without a permit.
I am going to assume you are speaking of one of Indiana's Navigable Waterways, as defined by this DNR website of "Roster by Waterway": http://www.in.gov/nrc/2392.htm
There is also a "Roster by County", look for the link on the same site. A very loose and unofficial definition of Navigable is that you can take a canoe down the stream.
The DNR has a summary of the Navigable Waterways Act where it states:
"C. Regulated Activities: For a person, other than a public or municipal water supply utility, the Act requires that a permit be obtained from the Department for the; placement, filling, or erection of a permanent structure in; water withdrawal from; or material extraction from; a navigable waterway. Regulated activities include, but are not limited to; bridge foundations, piers, seawalls, mineral extraction, etc." Here's the link for that statement: http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/4963.htm#4c
For example, a resident in my Indiana county has a piece of land with a non-navigable stream on it. For aesthetic reasons only, he wanted to dam a portion of the stream so he could have a pond. When he applied for the permit, the DNR turned it down. And that's for a non-navigable stream, so a permit would be even more out-of-the-question for Navigable Waters.
Another example in my Indiana county, the county government wanted to replace an old bridge on a county road. The DNR turned down the request as the new design affected the waterway enough to change the habitat of one of the stream's fish. I don't remember the name of the fish, but it was not a game fish such as bass, bluegill, catfish, etc. but maybe a species of suckerfish.
In summary, the DNR will look closely at whether the change will impact the watershed (for example, changing the water run-off and flooding properties upstream or downstream) and/or impact the environment (do harm to species of animal or plant).
Most creeks and streams are natural, so if you change there direction and later there's a catasterfy, then where those creeks and streams were might just return with 10 times more water when you least expect it. Mike
I'm sure there are such laws. Just do it and you will find out. You might even wind up in prison. I knew of a man who went to prison for blacktopping a parking lot, even though he got all the proper permits. After he did it, the government came in and declared it a wetland.
Let us face it, the saviors of the world are a bunch of nitwits who can't find an honest job.
Quotes by H.L. Mencken, famous columnist: "The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed ― and hence clamorous to be led to safety ― by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." And, "The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false face for the urge to rule it."
Even if the state did not object, the federal government would. Activities such as that have to be cleared with the Corps of Engineers.
@Sagebrush: If you believe that, I have a nice bridge to sell you.
Probably so. You could search your state name and laws or go to your sites website to navigate to the laws
Does Indiana Laws Prohibit people from changing or re-routing Ind Creeks or Streams??
