This week, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Martha Williams visited Springville, AL to celebrate a successful fish passage project. While in Springville, he announced that the USFWS will fund new projects to support the movement of fish around dams, culverts, levees and other barriers that divide waterways across the country.
More than $70 million for 43 different projects in 29 states, including a dam removal project in Elba, Alabama will be funded by 2024 by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Partnerships that save the trispot darter
Williams praised Springville Mayor Dave Thomas and a coalition of local and regional river and stream conservation groups for their work on the Trispot Darter Culverts Replacement project.
He toured the newly replaced crossing at the Springville Sports Complex designed to improve habitat for the endangered trispot darter. Williams was joined by the mayor, local officials, conservationists and US Fish and Wildlife Service staff.
“I want to thank you for your work on these trispot darter culvert replacement projects, which improve aquatic wildlife movement for these imperiled species. I’m excited to be visiting today, to celebrate a truly incredible collaborative fish project that’s happening not only here in Alabama, but across the country as well.
Martha Williams, Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Local groups that worked on the Springville project include:
Why it matters – 200 freshwater fish near Springville
In a press conference in front of the new road crossing at the Sports Complex, Pat O’Neil, former deputy director of the Alabama Geological Survey, described why small fish stocking is important, especially here in Alabama.
“Within a 50-mile radius of where we are today you can find more than 200 species of freshwater fish. Considering only larger aquatic species such as fish, bivalve mollusks, snails, and crayfishes, Alabama has 23% more aquatic species than Tennessee, 36% more than Georgia, and 46% more than Mississippi. So let me welcome you to Alabama, the epicenter of America’s native aquatic wildlife!”
Pat O’Neil, former deputy director of the Alabama Geological Survey
In addition to the Springville project that has already been completed, the USFWS is funding a project for 2024 in Elba, Alabama. According to the USFWS, the nearly $2 million project will remove the defunct Elba Hydroelectric Dam that is a hazard to people, fish and wildlife, including fish and mussels listed under the Endangered Species Act in Coffee County, Alabama.
Invest in nature
“When you invest in nature, when you give it a chance, it has an amazing ability to return. We need to give it a chance and that’s what this fund allows us to do.”
Martha Williams, Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Did you know that Alabama is the “hub” for freshwater biodiversity in the US? Tell us what you think of these important fish passage projects by tagging us on Instagram at @bhamnow
