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Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District

Angola, Indiana

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Invasive Species

Damaging Both Our Environment and Economy

Invasive Species are plants and animals that damage both our environment and our economy.  Invasive species are often exotic (not found in North America prior to European settlement) and wreak havoc on native ecosystems.  These species invade an area and out-compete native plants and animals for resources.  Since invasive species do not have any natural predators, their numbers will continue to grow unchecked without human intervention.  Some of these invasive species were brought to the United State intentionally, while others were inadvertently introduced.  A great deal of time and money are spent each year in an attempt to control these invaders.

Examples of Invasive Species

Some examples of invasive species include the Emerald Ash Borer beetle (Agrilus planipennis), which has been eliminating ash trees across the state.  Asian bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) is an aggressive understory shrub which forms a dense thicket in the forest, shading out all other plants beneath it.  Aquatic invasive species include reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), which forms thick stands in wet areas, over-taking native plants and forming a monoculture.  Another aquatic invader is the zebra mussel (Dreisenna polymorpha), which attaches to any hard surface underwater, including native mussels. They form a thick layer which damages boats and structures and kills the native mussel.

Weed: is a plant growing in a location where it is not wanted.

Noxious weeds: government-regulated plants that are deemed detrimental.

Invasive species: aggressive species which reproduce rapidly and out-compete other species for resources, negatively impacting the ecosystem.

Exotic species: species introduced to an area where they do not naturally occur.

State-listed Noxious Weeds:

  • Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)
  • Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
  • Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
  • Burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus)
  • Columbus grass (Sorghum almum)
  • Shattercane (Sorghum bicolor)
  • Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)

Top 5 Invasive Species

in Steuben County

*The list is in no specific order

For more information on Invasive and Noxious Species Control:

Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Terrestrial Invasive Species – Plants
Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Invasive Species
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Indiana Regulated Terrestrial Invasive Plant Species Guide
Midwest Invasive Plant Network
National Invasive Species Council
“Play, Clean, Go”
State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM)

Office Updates

Please call the office before visiting to verify we are here as we are frequently in the field.  Contact us by phone at (260) 665-3211, ext. 3 or email steubenswcd@gmail.com for assistance.

Upcoming Events

Jan 28
9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Urban/Small Farm and Garden Soil Health Workshop: Cover Crops in Your Growing System

Feb 6
February 6 - March 20

Native Plant Kit Sale

Feb 8
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Steuben County SWCD Board Meeting

Feb 20
All day

Presidents’ Day

Mar 8
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Steuben County SWCD Annual Meeting

View Calendar

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