Two eastern prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera leucophaea) sites in Lake County, in northeastern Illinois, were the recipients of a grant from The Nature Conservancy-U.S. Forest Service. 

This grant provided the use of a GeoBoy with an operator for brushmowing/tree removal for 65 hours. 

The federally threatened plant grows in mesic to wet-mesic prairie and can be displaced at sites by the invasion of woody species.  Periodic brushmowing with follow-up herbicide apllications, in addition to prescribed burning, can keep prairie habitat open and free from the encroachment of woody vegetation. 

Although orchids on these two sites are annually monitored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, funds are not allocated for management or maintenance.  To receive this grant for brushmowing and tree removal at these two sites was very much needed and appreciated.