blog posts

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  Drought intensifying in Illinois

  Sep 11, 2025 5:30 pm

  An extremely dry end to summer and start to fall has intensified ongoing drought in central and southern Illinois and increased the fire and blowing dust risk as we approach harvest, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute. River levels have dropped near or below low stage, including on the Kaskaskia, Sangamon, and Mackinaw, among others.

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  August ushered Illinois from summer to fall

  Sep 5, 2025 6:45 pm

  Last month brought both summer and fall weather to Illinois, with daily average temperature departures from normal showing a roller coaster in August, which tied the ninth driest on record statewide, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute.

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  PRI's Chris Stone chosen as IHSI 2025-26 Emerging Research Leader

  Aug 25, 2025 8:00 am

  Chris Stone, medical entomologist, has been chosen as one of IHSI Emerging Leaders for 2025–26.

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  Grant supports educational resources for Chicago area boaters, harbormasters, shoreline property owners

  Aug 20, 2025 8:00 am

  Prairie Research Institute scientists are working with collaborators to provide education for boaters and harbormasters about how invasive aquatic plants spread, and for property owners interested planting native species along shorelines.

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  Shelton named Illinois State Water Survey director

  Aug 14, 2025 4:30 pm

  Jenna Shelton recently joined the Prairie Research Institute as the new director of the Illinois State Water Survey. Shelton is a hydrobiogeochemist with 14 years of experience at the U.S. Geological Survey. She has a dynamic background of research and leadership, with expertise in strategic planning, machine learning, budgeting, the energy-water nexus, workforce development, stakeholder outreach, and international and Tribal Nation relations.

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  Illinois team updates state threatened, endangered plant species rankings

  Aug 13, 2025 11:00 am

  Scientists from the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have updated the state conservation status ranks, or S-ranks, of threatened and endangered plants in Illinois. The update includes some plants not recorded in the state for decades and finds many that, while still threatened, are doing better than previously thought.

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  Staying ahead of intense precipitation in Illinois

  Aug 6, 2025 2:45 pm

  The Prairie State is no stranger to intense precipitation and consequential flooding. However, the frequency and intensity of rainfall have been increasing in recent decades, putting a renewed focus on the information, warning systems, planning and preparation needed to protect Illinois from the threat of intense rainfall.

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  Dreslik named Illinois State Biologist, Illinois Natural History Survey director

  Jul 31, 2025 2:45 pm

  Michael Dreslik, a dedicated Illinois Natural History Survey research scientist of nearly three decades, will be the survey’s next director and Illinois State Biologist at the Prairie Research Institute.

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  What’s missing from our understanding of Illinois history?

  Jul 23, 2025 9:00 am

  A new book from the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, the Prairie Research Institute and the Illinois Department of Transportation offers a detailed overview of insights gained from more than a century of archaeological study. 

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  June brought summer heat, storms

  Jul 16, 2025 8:45 am

  The heat wave in late June was extreme in both its intensity — especially nighttime temperatures — and its duration, breaking 14 daily high and 88 daily high minimum temperature records across Illinois, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute.

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