RESOURCES COLLECTED BY

IZAAK WALTON'S
PORTER COUNTY CHAPTER

Indiana Dunes
Invasive Plant Species Identification Guide

by Patricia Stutz, hosted by Izaak Walton Porter County Chapter

Indiana Dunes Invasive Plant Guide - Patricia Stutz.pdf

Click on the top right "pop out"
icon in the image above to open
the guide's 51 pages.

All species accounts in this guide were based on information from iNaturalist.org and Invasive.org. Pictures of all species used in this guide were also from iNaturalist.org and Invasive.org. 

What is an invasive species?

An invasive species is federally defined as a non-native species that causes harm to the environment, economy, or human health.

Invasive species are not limited to a certain type of organism as they can be plants, animals, or even diseases. Invasives are also often intentionally introduced as livestock, ornamental plants, or to solve an agricultural/ecological problem. They can also be introduced accidentally.

What is the purpose of this guide?

What is the purpose of this guide? This guide was originally designed to help volunteers at the Indiana Dunes National Park identify early detection/rapid response plant species that they might come across in the park. Early detection/rapid response species are not yet widely established. This makes it possible to prevent them widely establishing in the park. This guide will solely focus on plant species as they are typically easier to identify. 

YOU can use this guide in your own  
northwest Indiana backyard garden too. 

THANK YOU to Patricia Stutz for sharing this important information with us. She compiled it as part of her student work at the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University.

Help eradicate invasive species:

What is Early Detection and Rapid Response?

Early detection and rapid response (EDRR) are practices that enable land managers to identify new and spreading invasive species quickly, and to enact control quickly, before the species population grows to the point where it cannot be locally eradicated. 

Unfortunately, historically society has not done a great job of realizing when species are becoming invasive, and most people are not aware of a problem until the invasive population is so large that it is impossible to eradicate. The best managers can hope for at that point is to control the population sizes to reduce impacts. The goal of EDRR practices is to notice invasive species problems earlier and to take control actions when populations are still relatively small and eradication is feasible.

You can help with EDRR!

Please report all invasive plant sightings to EDDMapS! EDDMapS stands for Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System. It is a web-based citizen science tool that allows people to report and map the invasive plants they are seeing in their area, and to have those reports verified by local experts.  You can report species either through the EDDMapS website or the EDDMapS app (available for iOS and Android - just search your app store for EDDMapS). The EDDMapS homepage can also connect you to training materials, distribution maps, and more. Reporting what you see in the field has never been easier!


Hosted here by
Porter County Chapter
of the Izaak Walton League of America

LIVING WITH LAKES SEMINARS RESOURCES:


LIVING WITH LAKES SEMINARS RETURN!

Saturday, June 24th to Rogers Lakewood Park.  Dive into learning about Porter County’s treasured Chain of Lakes, its flora, fauna, and surrounding watershed. The Valparaiso Chain of Lakes Watershed Group is back with a renewed focus on science, education, and the protection of our lakes. Local environmental and conservation groups will be present, along with a series of engaging speakers, all set in a relaxed picnic atmosphere on the shore of Loomis Lake and lagoon.

The event is free & open to the public.

CLICK EACH PRESENTER TO SEE THEIR PRESENTATION ON YOUR SMART PHONE

Event Schedule:
9 AM – Dr. Indra Frank will present on the topic of Indiana State Policies & Legislation which impact our lakes and wetlands. Dr. Frank’s presentation, “How Courts and Laws Muddy the Waters (and what you can do about it)” focuses on the recent ruling by the U.S Supreme Court about wetland protection and how it will impact Indiana.


9:50 – Climate Change, a World Perspective - Business Professor Dr. Elizabeth Gingerich will provide an update regarding climate change, her research, and efforts to reduce use of fossil fuels from our transportation, energy and food production.


10:40 – Wetland Ecology 101 - Aquatic ecologist Nathanael Pilla will present an academic overview on the functions of wetlands and our need to protect them.


11:30 – Where Have All The Bugs Gone? - Entomologist Dr. Kristi Bugajski will present an over-view of insect populations, causes and effects of their recent and dramatic decline, and impact on the food chain of fish, birds, humans.


11:45 – Sex in the Swamp – “Stormy” Nathanael Pilla will discuss the stages of successful reproduction of native and invasive aquatic flora while wading in the Hickory Grove Lagoon.


12: 35 - Lunch will be served with our speakers available for Q & A. Exhibitors will be invited to introduce themselves, their mission(s), recent environmental news and upcoming events.


1:00 PM – Micro Prairies - Scott Palla of Pheasants Forever & IWLA-PCC will explain how to set-up and plan miniature pollinator habitat gardens (micro-prairies).

Other Resources for your consideration: 

Dr. Indra Frank MD, MPH of the Hoosier Environmental Council Coal Ash Basics

It's Moth Week at the Ike's Convention

July 22-30 is Moth Week says the nationalmothweek.org.

JUST A GREAT EXCUSE TO LOOK AT MOTHS!

Watch the skies. Learn to identify 463 Indiana Moths.

If you are at the IWLA Convention, you may have found some new moths with Annette Hansen in Nebraska (learn to identify 436). 


In fact, the convention group was a registered private moth week event with NATIONAL MOTH WEEK Global Citizen Science. National Moth Week celebrates the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths. “Moth-ers” of all ages and abilities are encouraged to learn about, observe, and document moths in their backyards, parks, and neighborhoods. National Moth Week is being held, worldwide, during the last full week of July. NMW offers everyone, everywhere a unique opportunity to become a Citizen Scientist and contribute scientific data about moths. 

PCC's good friends at iNaturalist are working in partnership with National Moth Week. iNaturalist is a place where you can record what you see in nature, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. For information on how to start (including how to submit observations), click here. Any moths you submit during National Moth Week will be automatically added to the National Moth Week 2023 project! Some county/regional partners also have projects on the site you can manually add your observations. More information here: Link to 2023 NMW project – https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/national-moth-week-2023can record what you see in nature, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. For information on how to start (including how to submit observations), click here. Any moths you submit during National Moth Week will be automatically added to the National Moth Week 2023 project! Some county/regional partners also have projects on the site you can manually add your observations. More information here: Link to 2023 NMW project – https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/national-moth-week-2023