News

Re-establishing Prairie in the Wea Plains

In September of 2022, NICHES added a new 200+ acre preserve in Tippecanoe County, known as the Laura Hare Bend of the Wabash East. This preserve connects NICHES Granville Sand Barrens and Roy Whistler Wildlife Area to the Wabash River on the opposite bank of the Ross Hills/Ross Reserve. NICHES worked with the previous owner to have them enroll in the USDA Wetland Reserve Easement program (WRE) to permanently retire the 140 acres of previously farmed floodplain. NICHES was then able to purchase the property with major support from Laura Hare Charitable Trust, the Roy Whistler Foundation, the McAllister Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette. 

Invasive Plant Mapping at the Farris Estate with EcoLogic

• Stewardship
• Invasives

With the generous support from the estate Lois Lowe Farris, NICHES was able to contract with EcoLogic to perform an extensive invasive species mapping on our 400-acre restoration project in White County. The property, which was part of Farris' bequest to NICHES in 2021, is a massive undertaking for NICHES and was detailed in a blog post earlier last year. In a recent Facebook post, EcoLogic shared their findings with the general public.

Winter at Shawnee Bottoms

While you may not be outdoors as much as you would like, there is a lot going on this season! Board member Lori Marcum shares her suprising observations at Scott Pond in this post for our blog.

Thank You Volunteers: 11,500 Hours+ in 2023!

NICHES is excited to announce that in 2023 we reached a new milestone and received over 11,500 hours of volunteer service from individuals, hunting crews, businesses, and groups across our service area!

Affirming Our Commitment to Wetlands

On January 27, 2024, the NICHES Land Trust board hosted its annual retreat at the organization's headquarters, Clegg Memorial Gardens in Lafayette. This dedicated session helped all reach a similar level of understanding of this large, ever-changing topic and provided some clarity on muddy issues. surrounding the proposed LEAP water pipeline.

Arconic Grant Spurs Stewardship

Last summer, NICHES Land Trust received a $25,000 grant from the Arconic Foundation for its conservation projects and community engagement programs. This generous grant allowed NICHES to perform vital tasks including the removal of non-native invasive species, prescribed fires, and the removal of non-desired tree species to provide more light to native flowers and grasses.

NICHES Land Trust Summer 2024 Stewardship / Outreach Positions

NICHES Land Trust is hiring two Stewardship/Outreach Technicians for Summer 2024!

Application Deadline: March 1st, 2024.

NICHES Gifted 400 Acres of Lois Farris North Farm

One of the great joys of working for NICHES Land Trust is the opportunity to carry on the legacy of our community members. Especially gratifying is when an estate plan is so well thought out and coordinated as the one left behind by our late friend Lois Lynn (Lowe) Farris. Lois bequeathed generous gifts to Indiana DNR, The Nature Conservancy, and NICHES Land Trust upon her passing in November of 2021.

NICHES Receives Cargill Cares Community Fund Grant

NICHES Land Trust is excited to announce it is a recipient of a Cargill Cares Community Fund Grant!

The Unsung Hero of the Water World. By: Meghan Ciupak

A day spent in a wetland involves the sound of woodpeckers, bullfrogs, and the hum of life. Plants are growing in, around, and on the water while turtles are seen on top of every log.