News : NCCC team fighting invasive plants in Indiana

Maple 6 members are busy in Indiana.

By: Courtney Williams

AmeriCorps NCCC Maple 6 is partnering with the Indiana chapter of The Nature Conservancy in Hamilton, Indiana to help eliminate unwanted invasive plant species residing in the area. The NCCC crew is being shared between Northeast Indiana at conservancy sites managed by Elizabeth Mizell and North Central Indiana at conservancy sites managed by Stuart Orr.

In Northeast Indiana, the team is working at three main preserves: Douglas Woods Nature Preserve in Hamilton, Swamp Angel in Rome City, and Cline Lake Fen in Lagrange. They are assisting in the control of the shrubs Autumn Olive and the Asian bush Honeysuckle and the construction of a visitor parking area and trailhead for Douglas Woods. At Swamp Angel and Cline Lake Fen, the team is working in the fen wetlands to control several species of invasive plants such as Cattail, Common Reed, Common Buckthorn, Grey Dogwood, and Red Maple.

In North Central Indiana, the crew is helping eliminate invasive plants such as Phragmites, Canada Thistle, Sweet Clover, and many other invasive plants. This work is taking place at the Tefft Savanna Macrosite in Wheatfield, Houghton Lake Nature Preserve in Culver, and Fish Creek Fen Nature Preserve in North Liberty.

Pictured Above:

Maple 6 Picture:

1st row: Kayta Millerick, Jozalynn Jones, Courtney Williams, Victoria Burch

2nd row: John Boundreau, Kristin Duffy, Kevin Viado, Eric Knox, Matt Berry, John Burrows, Katie Mikos