OpportunityTitle: Indiana Coastal Cooperative Weed Management Area
CategoryExplanation: Biological
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: This is a &quot;Notice of Intent of a single source task agreement award to The Nature Conservancy, Merrillville, Indiana under the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).  The cooperator fo this project was choesn because of the Unique Qualifications.  The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is identified as the Lead Interested Party for the Indiana Coastal Cooperative Weed Management Area (ICCWMA) in its Memorandum of Understanding.  As the Lead Interested Party, it is given the authority to administer grants, contracts and other funding mechanisms on behalf of the ICCWMA.
Description: The purpose of this agreement is to aid the development of a Cooperative Weed Management Area for the Lake Michigan coastal portions of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties in Indiana. The Indiana Coastal Cooperative Weed Management Area (ICCWMA) will work to control the spread of non-native invasive species (NNIS) within the Great Lakes Watershed which includes NPS lands and other ownerships. The agreement will support efforts to strategically protect biodiversity and natural communities from the threats presented by invasive plants within the Lake Michigan Coastal Zone in Indiana. The ICCWMA is a formal partnership that will facilitate a coordinated approach to securing and utilizing resources to: efficiently combat existing and new infestations of invasive plants by implementing projects within defined management units, increase public awareness of the detrimental effects of invasive plants on biodiversity, and address the problem of invasive plants at a landscape scale by gaining support and cooperation from owners and managers of land held for purposes other than conservation. This agreement serves to support this effort by providing resources to further develop the ICCWMA and accomplish critical cooperative invasive plant control projects. Participating partners will work cooperatively to draft an organizational document and work plan, complete educational and outreach activities, produce a list of target invasive plant species, and treat invasive plants on properties of multiple partners.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Help Desk
GrantorContactText: Tonya Bradley &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 402-661-1656