Trispot Darter from our area is now a Threatened Species

WASHINGTON D.C. (WDEF) – A small fish that lives in rivers and streams in our area has been declared a threatened species.

The Trispot Darter is ground in the Coosa River Basin in Southeast Tennessee, northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama.

The problem for the darter is destruction of habitat, particularly their spawning grounds.

Culverts like this can be a barrier for fish as they swim upstream. Photo by Alabama Rivers and Streams Network SHU Mapper.

Man-made dams and creek culverts restrict can seal them off from spawning, and rapid water withdrawals can dry them up.

The federal protection is a step up from the endangered and threatened categories in the states.

Now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing critical habitat for the darter which will be under strict construction guidelines.

They are proposing six critical habitat areas, four in our area.  All critical spawning areas are on private property, so the owners will face regulation.

*Proposed Unit 1: Big Canoe Creek *

Unit 1 consists of 41 stream miles in St. Clair County, Alabama, and 10,167 acres of land that encompasses spawning habitat. Unit 1 begins on Big Canoe Creek approximately 3.5 miles upstream of Pinedale Road, west of Ashville, Alabama to US Hwy 11. Unit 1 also includes the westernmost Little Canoe Creek to AL 174 and all of its associated tributaries.

*Proposed Unit 2: Ballplay Creek *Unit 2 consists of 17 stream miles in Etowah, Cherokee and Calhoun counties, Alabama, and 2,527 acres of land that encompasses spawning habitat. The trispot darter occupies the unit, and it currently supports all breeding, feeding and sheltering needs for the species. Unit 2 begins upstream of a wetland complex located at the border between Etowah and Cherokee counties at County Road 32 and continues upstream approximately to the US Highway 278 crossing over Ballplay Creek in Calhoun County, Alabama.

*Proposed Unit 3: Conasauga River*
Unit 3 consists of 57 stream miles and 2,161 acres of land that encompasses spawning habitat in Whitfield and Murray counties, Georgia, and Polk and Bradley counties, Tennessee. It begins in the Conasauga River upstream of the mouth of Coahulla Creek and continues upstream to the mouth of Minneawuaga Creek. Unit 3 also includes: Mill Creek from its confluence with the Conasuaga River in Bradley County, Tennessee, upstream to the first impoundment on Mill Creek approximately at Green Shadow Road SE; Old Fort Creek from Ladd Springs Road SE in Polk County, Tennessee, to its confluence with Mill Creek in Bradley County, Tennessee; and Perry Creek from its headwaters.

*Proposed Unit 4: Mill Creek*
Unit 4 consists of 15 stream miles and 438 acres of land that encompasses spawning habitat in Whitfield County, Georgia. The land surrounding the river in this unit is privately and city owned. The trispot darter occupies the unit, and it currently supports all breeding, feeding, and sheltering needs for the species. Unit 4 begins in Mill Creek at its confluence with Coahulla Creek and continues upstream for approximately 15 miles to the US Highway 41 crossing over Mill Creek.

*Proposed Unit 5: Coahulla Creek*
Unit 5 consists of 26 stream miles and 1,442 acres of land that encompasses spawning habitat in Whitfield County, Georgia, and Bradley County, Tennessee. Unit 5 begins immediately upstream of the Prater Mill dam upstream of GA Highway 2. It continues upstream for approximately 26 miles to Ramsey Bridge Road SE and includes wetland habitat from half a mile downstream of Hopewell Road to approximately half a mile upstream of McGaughey Chapel Road. The land surrounding the river in this unit is privately owned.

*Proposed Unit 6: Coosawattee River *Unit 6 consists of 25 stream miles beginning at the confluence of the Coosawattee River and the Conasauga River in Gordon County, Georgia. It continues to Old Highway 411 downstream of Carters Lake Reregulation Dam in Murray County, Georgia. The land surrounding the river in this unit is a mix of state, private and Army Corps of Engineers property.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published their proposals for protecting the darter during the government shutdown.

They are giving the public until February 26th to submit written comments or information on their proposed critical habitat rule.

(online here  or by mail to the address U.S. Fish and Wildlife Headquarters,
MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.)

You can also request a public hearing in writing within 45 days by February 11, 2019, to the Falls Church, VA, address.

The darter exhibit at the Tennessee Aquarium.

Categories: Bradley County, Catoosa County, Chattooga County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Environment, Featured, Local News, Murray County, Polk County, Regional News, Whitfield County

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