In 2023, Conservation Law Center helped State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) submit a grant to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for funding to assist SICIM’s work creating local partnerships for improved land management and invasive plants species control. SICIM was awarded this grant in 2024 and is currently in the process of implementing the programs supported by the grant.
This program was supported by the State of Indiana Cooperative Invasive Species Management and including the following additional partners: Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in Bartholomew, Brown, Jennings, Johnson, and Sullivan Counties; Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) in Bartholomew, Brown, and Johnson County; Naval Support Activity Crane; Atterbury-Muscatatuck Training Center; and the Cordry Sweetwater Conservation District. The grant will include three components: invasive species control projects, establishment of two new CISMAs, and outreach and education.
Invasive plant species removal on adjacent private lands to military installations – Approximately 80 properties, encompassing approximately 1,200 acres, will receive invasive species control through a grant program managed by SICIM. This work will occur primarily on pre-identified properties near Camp Atterbury Training Center and the Muscatatuck Training Center. In addition to their locations, these properties have been selected because they are not likely eligible to receive cost share support through existing federal programs supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Establishment of CISMAs in Sullivan and Jennings Counties – Cooperative Invasives Species Management Areas work with Indiana County SWCDs. CISMAs are instrumental in providing long-term support to landowners for invasive plant removal and invasive plant education. SICIM will establish two new CISMAs: one in Sullivan County where the Lake Glendora Test Facility is located and another in Jennings County where the Muscatatuck Training Center is located. This will put in place the infrastructure to establish long-term support for community based invasive species management in these counties with military installations that currently do not have CISMAs. SICIM will assist, train, and facilitate leadership for these CISMAs. Sullivan and Jennings CISMAs will join with other Indiana CISMAs under the Indiana Invasives Initiative project for support and resources.
Outreach and Education – SICIM will host a minimum of forty (40) Weed Wrangles® that demonstrate how to manage invasive species to support native habitat. Weed Wrangles® often assist local parks with habitat management projects and one of the project areas will be 40 acres of the Johnson County Park which is adjacent to Camp Atterbury Training Center. Each Weed Wrangle® consists of a brief educational session and at least two hours of invasive species control activities in a local park or natural area open to the public. These events are designed to teach residents the value of native species, the impacts of invasive species, how to identify invasive species, how to manage them, as well as inspire residents to collaborate for habitat improvement in their parks and at home. In addition to Weed Wrangles®, six workshops will be held across the project area on private lands. These workshops will be led by professionals and hosted by residents, which is key to building trust for the program. They will consist of an overview of basic ecology, species identification, and hands-on demonstration of management techniques that address ecological issues relevant to landowners.
More information about SICIM HERE
