Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Nebraska
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The Nebraska Invasive Species Council focuses on early detection, prevention and management of invasive species (taxa of concern) within the state of Nebraska. The members of this council are committed to minimizing the harmful effects of invasive species in an effort to promote healthy landscapes and healthy citizens. To help fulfill this commitment, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln hired Allison Zach as the Coordinator for the Nebraska Invasive Species Council in September 2013. In this capacity, Allison serves as a liaison with Nebraska’s Governor and State Legislature. Allison develops and provides invasive species outreach and education to Nebraska resource agencies, individual stakeholders, educators and the general public regarding. She serves on the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Board, and is the NAISMA Play, Clean, Go committee Chair.

The Nebraska Invasive Species Council develops management tools including an invasive species adaptive management plan, a risk analysis for high-risk invasive species in Nebraska, a multi-agency prevention protocol for preventing the spread of invasive species (terrestrial and aquatic), and identification of invasive species introduction pathways. The Council created a 2-sided outreach card in 2020 and updated its adaptive management in 2021. The Council’s website has a reporting tool; concerned citizens have identified new infestations of zebra mussels and other invasive species. Allison refers reports to an appropriate invasive species expert for investigation and guidance.