Assessment of water resources in areas that affect the habitat of the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly in the Lower Des Plaines River Valley, Illinois

Abstract

Review of previous investigations indicates that potential decreases in groundwater recharge and increased groundwater extraction in the vicinity of the Lower Des Plaines River Valley in Will County, Illinois, may reduce the amount of groundwater flow in the Silurian aquifer in this area. Groundwater discharge from the Silurian aquifer to wetlands in the Lower Des Plaines River Valley plays an important role in sustaining the habitat of the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana). Groundwater modeling performed by previous investigators indicates that increasing the amount of water pumped from the aquifer in support of expanded quarry operations near the Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve has the potential to reduce groundwater discharge to the most productive Hine’s emerald dragonfly habitats in Illinois, potentially degrading the habitat. Model simulations indicate that mitigation procedures designed to artificially enhance groundwater recharge in the vicinity of dragonfly habitats near the Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve are likely to offset the effects of increased pumping. Several areas with smaller, often intermittent populations of Hine’s emerald dragonflies have been identified in other parts of the Lower Des Plaines River Valley and elsewhere in Illinois. Human activities have the potential to produce changes in hydrology and water quality that can threaten all of these habitats.