Dragonfly Mercury Project

Leaders in Environmental Actions for the Future interns collect dragonfly larvae at East Inlet Natural Area National Natural Landmark, New Hampshire.

Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy

Started in 2010, the Dragonfly Mercury Project is a citizen science effort guided by a partnership between the National Park Service, US Geological Survey, and the University of Maine. Dragonfly larvae samples are collected from sites nationwide to obtain a broader understanding of mercury deposition and contamination across the entire landscape. Even with over 100 different units of the national park system participating, broad geographic gaps in sampling locations existed.

Since 2017, staff at these 8 different National Natural Landmarks have rounded up volunteers, put on their waders and collected dragonfly larvae samples:

• Bear Meadows Natural Area, Pennsylvania
• East Inlet Natural Area, New Hampshire
• Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, Maryland
• Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, Texas
• Lilley Cornett Woods, Kentucky
• Fish Slough, California
• Ell Pond, Rhode Island
• Wesselman Park Woods, Indiana

Learn more about National Natural Landmarks.