Invasives Initiative
Indiana Invasives Initiative
In late 2017, Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) entered into a contribution agreement for the purpose of developing local Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) throughout Indiana. Both SICIM and the NRCS have been working for many years to combat invasive plants and raise public awareness of the devastation being caused by these non-native pests, and both have come to the realization that we will not begin to make much headway until the problem is addressed at the local level by local people using local resources.
what will this project deliver?
Project highlights
The original agreement initiated in 2017 partially funded five years of the project. Due to the success of the program, NRCS decided again to make reimbursable financial support available to SICIM for another five years.
SICIM staff and steering committee members work with SWCDs and other conservation organizations to increase CISMA representation across the state, and help them (these conservation partners) find resources necessary to manage invasives locally.
Educational opportunities and multi-partner work days (such as Weed Wrangles) are conducted statewide to address local invasive species issues, sharing management techniques and research for on-the-ground experiences in effective land management.
SICIM staff and CISMAs provide technical assistance to landowners, including invasive species property surveys and management plans.
Regional specialists work around the state to implement and assist with all activities associated with the III.
An organizational template and resources to help new CISMAs
Public invasive species education events
Private landowner invasive plant assessments
One-on-one technical assistance to small acreage landowners
Professional trainings for Conservation Partnership staff and others
Visit our Invasive Species Assistance page to learn more or reach out to our Indiana Invasives Initiative Team below.
Due to the statewide nature of this project, SICIM continues to seek opportunities to fully fund the Indiana Invasives Initiative to carry it through the next five years and beyond. If you or your organization are interested in supporting this project, please contact our Executive Director, stephanie@sicim.info, or click here to donate online.
Partial funding for this project is from USDA NRCS. USDA and its partnering organizations are equal opportunity providers, employers, and lenders.
Indiana Invasives Initiative STAFF
Each of our staff covers a section of the state. Scroll down to find the Regional Specialist that covers your county.
project coordinator - Dawn Slack
Dawn Slack is the Project Coordinator for the Indiana Invasives Initiative. Contact Dawn if you are unsure of the regional specialist for your area (see coverage map to the left) or if you have general questions about the project. You can reach her at dawn@sicim.info or by selecting the button below.
Counties Dawn currently covers: Henry, Howard, Tipton, Clinton, Morgan, Johnson, Monroe, Brown, Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings, Jefferson, Daviess, Martin, Dubois, Pike, Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, & Warrick.
REGIONAL SPECIALIST - AMBER SLAUGHTERBECK
Serving West Central Indiana
812-229-3539
Tippecanoe, Warren, Fountain, Montgomery, Vermillion, Parke, Putnam, Vigo, Clay, Owen, Greene, Sullivan, & Knox
REGIONAL SPECIALIST - Liz Yetter
Serving East Central Indiana
765-277-1415
823 South Round Barn Rd, Suite 1, Richmond, IN 47374
Blackford, Jay, Delaware, Randolph, Wayne, Shelby, Rush, Fayette, Union, Decatur, Franklin, Ripley, & Dearborn
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - STEPHANIE SCHUCK
Serving Central Indiana
812-653-5563
Marion, Hendricks, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, & Hancock
REGIONAL SPECIALIST - Kaila Laplace
Serving South Central Indiana
812-631-7913
Spencer, Perry, Crawford, Orange, Lawrence, Harrison, Floyd, Washington, Clark, Scott, Jefferson, Switzerland, & Ohio.
REGIONAL SPECIALIST - Mandi Glanz
Serving Northwest Indiana
(260) 243-2161
Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, White, & Benton
regional specialist - RONDA SPAULDING
REGIONAL SPECIALIST - Dugan Julian
Serving Northeast Indiana
(574) 527-0781
Elkhart, Lagrange, Steuben, Dekalb, Noble, Kosciusko, Whitley, Allen, Adams, Wells, Huntington, Wabash, Miami, & Grant
St. Joseph, Starke, Marshall, Pulaski, Fulton, Cass, Carroll