GRAEF-USA Inc.

Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve

Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve currently contains the highest concentration of high-quality dolomite prairie in the state of Illinois. The ecosystem is supplied by ground water from a dolomite aquifer that crops out along a 40-foot high bluff. Ground water enters through seeps along the bluff, and then the seepage water flows across the site through rivulets that traverse the dolomite prairie.

GRAEF was selected to evaluate the surface and subsurface hydrology supplying the habitats. GRAEF installed nine monitoring well nests with 27 wells, 23 well points and measured surface water flows at four culverts and four rivulets. The monitoring work was part of an overall effort coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the Corporation for Open Lands, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Forest Preserve District of Will County. GRAEF prepared both surface and ground water models of the site to evaluate the mechanics of flow, water budgets, and to evaluate future threats to the long-term sustainability of the preserve habitats.

GRAEF performed an ecological data gap analysis in order to determine what suites of information were needed to properly manage the preserve to assure its long-term sustainability. The data gap evaluation included biological data, surface water data, ground water data, geological data and soils data. Recommendations were made to the Lockport Prairie Technical Advisory Team based on the most critical data gaps.

In addition, GRAEF evaluated the land use in the vicinity of the preserve to evaluate how development trends will impact the sustainability of the preserve habitats. Three zones were identified immediately west of the preserve, based on the potential for impacting a change on the hydrology of the preserve. GRAEF evaluated Best Management Practices (BMPs) for ground water discharge and developed a plan to optimize recharge within the preserve recharge zone.
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LOCATION Lockport, IL

FACTS Services Provided: Flow Monitoring=, Ground water Elevation Monitoring (seven years), Surface Water Modeling, Water Budget Evaluation, Ecological Gap Evaluation, Railway Sediment Study, Evaluation of Rivulet Thermal Data, Land Use Analysis, Ground Water Model