Central Hardwoods Invasive Plant Network (CHIP-N)
Joint Aquatic Invasive Species Survey

The Central Hardwoods Invasive Plant Network (CHIP-N), a multi-state, multi-CWMA effort, was launched in 2009 to work across agency jurisdictions and state lines. The goal was to standardize protocols, compile records, and survey invasive species. A landscape level approach is needed for the region to address invasive species at a larger scale.

The first project through CHIP-N was a survey of aquatic and riparian invasive plants through funding from the USFS State & Private Forestry and the USFS Eastern Region. Four CWMAs, three national Forests (Hoosier, Shawnee, and Wayne), the Nature Conservancy, and Notre Dame University teamed up to develop and conduct this interstate project. The survey crews focused primarily on boat ramps along the Ohio River and tributaries, and inland lakes in southern Illinois, southern Indiana and Ohio. Overall 259 ramps were surveyed across the three state region and 513 infestations were documented for 15 different species during the summer of 2010.

Project leaders were the recipient of a 2010 Award for Excellence in Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response from the USFS National Forest System National Invasive Species Program and a 2010 Honor Award for Protecting Ecosystems Across Boundaries from the USFS Eastern Region.

Click here to view pictures of the survey teams.

Below are the results from this survey effort.

Distribution
Subject Name Scientific Name Point Region/County
Japanese chaff flower Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai Point Regional County
garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande Point Regional County
flowering rush Butomus umbellatus L. Point Regional County
narrowleaf bittercress Cardamine impatiens L. Point Regional County
Chinese mystery snail Cipangopaludina chinensis (Gray, 1834) Point Regional County
Chinese yam Dioscorea polystachya Turcz. Point Regional County
zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas) Point Regional County
Brazilian waterweed, Brazilian elodea Egeria densa Planch. Point Regional County
common water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms Point Regional County
leafy spurge Euphorbia esula L. Point Regional County
giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier Point Regional County
Japanese hop Humulus japonicus Siebold & Zucc. Point Regional County
hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle Point Regional County
European frog-bit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L. Point Regional County
purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria L. Point Regional County
European water-clover Marsilea quadrifolia L. Point Regional County
Japanese stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus Point Regional County
parrotfeather Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vell.) Verdc. Point Regional County
Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum L. Point Regional County
brittleleaf naiad Najas minor All. Point Regional County
mile-a-minute vine, Asiatic tearthumb Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross Point Regional County
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea L. Point Regional County
European common reed, Phragmites Phragmites australis ssp. australis (Cavanilles) Trinius ex Steudel Point Regional County
water lettuce Pistia stratiotes L. Point Regional County
curly leaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus L. Point Regional County
Japanese knotweed Reynoutria japonica Sieb. & Zucc. Point Regional County
Black dog-strangling vine, black swallowwort Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench Point Regional County