Contact Us

Use the form on the right to contact us.

You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.

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?

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.