Hine's emerald dragonfly larvae in different stages of development.  - Photo courtesy of Dan Soluk, University of South Dakota

One of the population strongholds for the federally endangered Hine's emerald dragonfly is in the lower Des Plaines River valley in southwest suburban Chicago.  Habitat for the species is distributed among a variety of public and private landowners.  Two of the major private industries that hold key parcels near Romeoville, Ill., in Will County, approached the Service's Chicago Ecological Services Field Office about the possibilities of embarking on a Habitat Conservation Plan for the dragonfly.   After discussing the opportunities with our state partners and other local agencies and industry stakeholders, an HCP planning grant application was submitted.  

On Sept. 27, 2005, the Service notified the local stakeholders that the grant for $370,000 had been awarded.   The geographic scope of this planning effort includes the largest known Illinois populations and the sites facing the most imminent threats.   The Habitat Conservation Plan is expected to produce a landscape level plan for protecting and enhancing important sites that are currently occupied by the dragonfly, as well as currently unoccupied sites that could be made suitable with restoration.  It will also address threats to important sources of groundwater that support dragonfly habitat.  Finally, it will allow important development projects to occur with greater certainty that the species has been adequately protected.