Welcome! The Knox County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) is a local, non-profit organization, whose mission is to minimize the impact of invasive plant species in Knox County by educating the public, monitoring and removing invasive plants, and promoting and protecting native plants.
The group was formed in 2014 to address invasive species in the county. In 2016, the Knox County SWCD hired Will Drews as a Natural Resource Specialist with coordinating the CISMA as one of the functions of his job. The Knox County CISMA holds monthly meetings and invasive species workdays. To get more information about the group, contact Will Drews at willem.drews@in.nacdnet.net.
In 2018, the Knox County CISMA officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The current CISMA officers and governing steering committee are:
- President – Denise Egel
- Vice President – Larry Sutterer
- Treasurer – Dorothy McDowell
- Secretary – Tricia Kasting
- Ray Chattin
- Valerie Clingerman
- Margaret Dalle-ave
- Dave Deem
- Frank Doughman
- Dan Egel
- Terri Talarek King
- Ray McCormick
- Linda Sutterer
- Tom Young
Past Steering Committee Members include:
- Lisa Bowman
- Gary Bowman
Knox County CISMA 2022 Officers. From left to right, Denise Egel (President), Dorothy McDowell (Treasurer), Larry Sutterer (Vice President), and not pictured Tricia Kasting (Secretary).
For the past several years, the CISMA has held a big community nature event called “Knox County Nature Days.” The theme for the inaugural event in 2017 was “Andre Michaux and the Beginning of Botany in Indiana.” In 2018 the theme was “Trees: the Good, the Bad, and Hope for the Future.” In 2019 the theme was “Pollinator Day: Butterflies & How to Attract Them.” In 2021, the theme was “Knox County Natives.” In 2022, the theme was “Feathers & Petals.” The CISMA is planning to host this event annually, and the next Knox County Nature Days will be tentatively held on July 29, 2023 (time and location TBD).
And find us on Facebook!
See calendar below for upcoming events!
Back to CISMA Homepage.