The Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership (NIIPP) is a cooperative weed management area (CWMA), a regional organization that brings together all interested landowners, land managers (private, city, county, state, and federal), non-profits, private entities, industry, special districts, and the public in the defined geographic boundaries of the Chicago Wilderness region for the purpose of coordinating and combining their resources, expertise, and activities for more efficient and effective management of invasive plant species across jurisdictional boundaries.
Our mission is to prevent and control new plant invasions, control and manage current invasions, support informed management decisions, and raise public awareness concerning the threat posed by invasive plants. Our goal is to minimize the adverse impacts invasive plants have on our open lands and waters in northeast Illinois, especially on native habitats and their native plants and wildlife.
Our geographic range covers 18 counties in northeastern Illinois. If your organization or agency is located within the Chicago Wilderness region (map link here) and you are interested in learning more about NIIPP, please take a moment to explore our website.
Spring will be arriving soon and gardeners will be headed to nurseries and garden centers to purchase their treasures. We are encouraging gardeners to make informed choices about what they plant- please have a look at our Green Industry Education and Outreach page. We are gearing up for our third year participating in the USDA Forest Service Garlic Mustard Challenge and Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month! In collaboration with IL-IN Sea Grant we are also preparing for the third season of aquatic invasive species education and outreach via the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Clean Boats Crew. We have begun collaborating with IDNR, Chicago Botanic Garden, and Lake County Department of Health-Lakes Management Unit on a statewide pre-emptive early detection rapid response management plan for Hydrilla verticillata , which has already been found in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Our partners are currently working with multiple transportation agencies to coordinate control of invasive plants along rights of way. To file a report of an infestation please head to our Coordinate Control Efforts with Transportation webpage. In addition we are gearing up for a fall meeting focusing on invasive ornamental plants. Stay tuned for updates on this project!
There are many great opportunities to work together in northeast Illinois to stop the spread of invasive plants and we look forward to working with you. If you would like to be added to the NIIPP email list please contact us via email or phone.
Sincerely,
Cathy McGlynn and the NIIPP Steering Committee
Cathy McGlynn, Coordinator
Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership
c/o Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road | Glencoe, IL 60022
Office 847-242-6423 | Mobile 845-667-4981| Fax 847-242-6330
www.niipp.net
cathy.mcglynn@niipp.net
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area
