Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve

Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve protects a diversity of habitats, including forest, prairie, savanna, wetland and a portion of the Des Plaines River.

Wildlife found at the preserve includes the federally endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly and other rare species.

The preserve is also home to a variety of plant species, including the federally endangered leafy prairie clover and the federally threatened lakeside daisy.

A 250-acre portion of the site was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1983. The dolomite prairie is a high quality remnant on shallow limestone soils. This type of community has almost completely disappeared from the Midwest. Some unusual plants of the dolomite prairie are low calamint, slender sandwort and Ohio horsemint.