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The '''Watercress Darter''' ('''''Etheostoma nuchale''''') is a small colorful fish which lives in the [[Black Warrior River]] drainage basin near [[Birmingham]]. The largest known female is 2.5 inches in length.
[[File:Watercress darters.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Watercress darters]]
The '''watercress darter''' ('''''Etheostoma nuchale''''') is a small, reddish perciform fish with colorful fins which lives in the [[Black Warrior River]] drainage basin near [[Birmingham]]. To date it has only been found in a few locations in streams in [[Powderly]], [[Roebuck Spring]], and [[Thomas Spring]] and [[Glenn Springs]] in [[Bessemer]], plus a reserve population planted in [[Pinson]]. Originally these populations would have been connected, but today the waterways that link them are either too polluted or altered for the populations to mingle.


The species can be found in the watercress zone of springs. They feed on snails, crustaceans and insect larvae. The species is endangered and is protected in areas such as the [[Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge]].
The species is named for its preferred habitat in the "watercress zone" of springs. It feeds on snails, crustaceans and insect larvae. The largest known female was 2.5 inches in length, but the fish are generally 1 to 1.8 inches long.  Green sunfish, bluegills, and sculpins are known to prey on watercress darters.


The fish was also discovered in the stream that runs in front of the [[Hawkins Recreation Center]] and through the [[Roebuck Golf Course]] in the 1980s. As a result, the [[Birmingham Park and Recreation Board]] agreed to stop using pesticides near the edge of the stream, which has increased the stream's fish population, including the watercress darter.
The species is endangered and is protected by Federal and state laws. Protected habitats such as the [[Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge]] and [[Seven Springs Ecoscape]] help to conserve the species. In [[2023]], Howell published ''History of Birmingham’s Endangered Watercress Darter''.
 
== History ==
The watercress darter was discovered in [[1964]] by [[Mike Howell]] and [[R. D. Caldwell]] in [[Glenn Springs]], a tributary of [[Halls Creek]], in Bessemer.  Another population was not found until [[1976]], when a second was found in [[Thomas Spring]], another tributary of Halls Creek in Bessemer.  In [[1980]], Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge was established around Thomas Spring exclusively to protect the rare fish.
 
In the 1980s the fish was also discovered in the small stream that runs in front of the [[Hawkins Recreation Center]], and in a [[Roebuck-Hawkins Park#Pond|small pond]] just south of the [[Alabama Department of Youth Services Vacca Campus]]. Darters have also been found in the stream below the dam as it winds through the [[Roebuck Municipal Golf Course]] and flows into [[Village Creek]]. As a result, the [[Birmingham Park and Recreation Board]] agreed to stop using pesticides near the edge of the stream, which increased its fish population, including the watercress darter.
 
In [[1986]] a reserve population of darters was planted at [[Penny Springs]] in [[Pinson]] by Howell, leading a "recovery team" sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 
In the early 2000s, the fish was also found in a spring that flows in front of [[Faith Apostolic Church]] in Powderly by [[Samford University]] professors Mike Howell and [[Larry Davenport]]. [[Seven Springs EcoScape]], a park designed to protect the darter, opened adjacent to the church on [[April 13]], [[2008]]. Additional property along [[Nabors Branch]] has been dedicated as wildlife preserves by the [[Seven Springs Watercress Darter Coalition]] and by a conservation easement negotiated with [[Freshwater Land Trust]] by property owner [[Emily Godsey]].
 
=== Roebuck fish kill ===
In September [[2008]] the earthen dam at [[Roebuck-Hawkins Park]] was demolished by [[Birmingham Department of Public Works]] crews.<!--She claimed to have not known about the pond's importance to the endangered species and to have been responding only to damage caused by flooding of the park's tennis courts, located just above the dam.--> An estimated 11,760 individual fish were killed, in part because their instinct when surprised by moving water is to seek shelter in the grasses at the pond's edge rather than to swim with the current. Federal and state wildlife officials collected specimens, developed a pond restoration plan, and began an investigation which may have led to criminal charges. Mayor [[Larry Langford]] requested that [[Balch & Bingham]] represent the city in defending itself against possible action.
 
Under the restoration plan another temporary sandbag dam was built, bringing the pond depth back to about 12 inches. An aerator was used to restore oxygen levels and teams of biologists and volunteers frequently monitored water quality and observed any signs of changes in the fish population. A non-native crayfish population that had been preying on the fish was also eradicated. The temporary dam was later replaced with a tamper-proof dam specially designed for the pond.  By June [[2009]] scientists from the [[University of Alabama]] found about half as many individual fish in the pond as in previous years.
 
On [[June 24]], [[2010]], The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a fine of $2,975,000 against the city. The Service said the city was initially helpful in restoring the habitat, but has not responded to further measures needed to protect the fish. In January [[2012]], it was reported that a settlement had been proposed in which the federal government would drop the fine if Birmingham donated $182,000 to the [[Freshwater Land Trust]] and continue its efforts to protect the pond's fragile ecosystem.  <!-- But I can't find anything about the outcome! -->
 
=== Watercress Darter Festival ===
 
On [[April 10]], [[2011]], the [[Freshwater Land Trust]] and [[Southern Environmental Center]] hosted the first Watercress Darter Festival at [[Railroad Park]] to help raise awareness of the fish.  The event featured watercress darter kites for sale, performance art, and food from [[George’s Boxcar Café]].  Proceeds went to the Southern Environmental Center's Community Ecoscapes program.
 
{{Watercress darter}}


==References==
==References==
* Etheostoma nuchale. FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
* Howell, W. M. and R. D. Caldwell (October 11, 1965) "Etheostoma (Oligocephalus) nachale, a new darter from a limestone spring in Alabama." ''Tulane Studies in Zoology''. vol. 12, no. 4. pp. 101-108
* Bryant, Walter (March 6, 2007). "Birds, watchers flock to Roebuck."  ''The Birmingham News''.
* Gimenez, Dixon, M. (1996) "[http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/8122/0 Etheostoma nuchale]" IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2
* "[http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Etheostoma&speciesname=nuchale Etheostoma nuchale]". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
* Bryant, Walter (March 6, 2007)  "Birds, watchers flock to Roebuck." {{BN}}
* Tran, Linh and Ingrid Pfau. (2008).  "[http://contentdm.mhsl.uab.edu/videos/2008Saved.html Saved: The Story of the Watercress Darter]."  [[Digital City Films]].
* Spencer, Thomas (April 14, 2008) "Rare fish a symbol of Christian conservation." {{BN}}
* Bouma, Katherine (September 23, 2008) "Dam removal kills more than 1,000 endangered fish at Roebuck Springs." {{BN}}
* Wilson, Glynn (September 23, 2008) "[http://blog.locustfork.net/2008/09/23/at-least-1000-endangered-watercress-darters-killed-in-roebuck-springs/ At Least 1,000 Endangered Watercress Darters Killed]" ''The Locust Fork Journal''
* Watercress darter. (March 20, 2006) [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Watercress_darter&oldid=194791396] ''Wikipedia'' -  accessed September 23, 2008.
* Bouma, Katherine (September 26, 2008) "Professor reveals darter reserve." {{BN}}
* "[http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=43663 Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge]" (n.d.).  U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Accessed September 26, 2008
* Bouma, Katherine (December 27, 2008) "Roebuck Springs watercress darters monitored after pond-draining disaster." {{BN}}
* Bouma, Katherine (June 9, 2009) "Endangered darters struggling to rebound." {{BN}}
* Fluker, B. L., B. R. Kuhajda, R. S. Duncan, E. L. Salter, and M. Schulman (2009) "Impacts of a small dam removal on the endangered watercress darter." Proceedings of the Annual Conference of Southeastern Associations of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. No. 63, pp. 188-195
* "Government seeks $3 million from Birmingham for fish kill."  (June 24, 2010).  MyFoxAlabama.com - accessed June 24, 2010
* Wilson, Glynn (September 14, 2010) "[http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/09/roebuck-springs-fish-kill-update-a-video-on-village-creek/ Roebuck Springs Fish Kill Update: A Video on Village Creek]" ''Locust Fork News-Journal''
* Chambers, Jesse (April 7, 2011) "Green briefs."  ''Birmingham Weekly''
* Bryant, Joseph D.  (January 26, 2012)  "Birmingham lawyers: Settlement on table with feds over fish kill."  {{BN}}
* Duncan, R. Scot, Bernard R. Kuhajda, Caitlin A. Hodges & Ashley L. Messenger (December 2016) "[https://fwspubs.org/doi/pdf/10.3996/072015-JFWM-062 Population Structure and Habitat Use of the Endangered Watercress Darter]" ''Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management''. Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 499-508
* Byington, Pat (March 12, 2018) "[http://bhamnow.com/2018/03/12/birmingham-roebuck-springs-habitat-for-the-endangered-watercress-darter/ Birmingham Roebuck Springs habitat for the endangered Watercress darter to be restored]" ''Bham Now''
* Pillion, Dennis (November 21, 2021) "Endangered Alabama darter gains permanent habitat protections." {{BN}}
* Morrison, Callie (April 11, 2023) "Prominent Birmingham biologist publishes new book on endangered watercress darter" {{BNow}}
 
== External links ==
* [http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/fish/other/darters/watercress/ Watercress Darter] at Outdoor Alabama


[[Category:Fishes]]
[[Category:Endangered species]]
[[Category:Endangered species]]
[[Category:Black Warrior River]]
[[Category:Black Warrior River]]
[[Category:Village Creek]]
[[Category:Turkey Creek]]
[[Category:Native fishes]]

Latest revision as of 09:23, 14 April 2023

Watercress darters

The watercress darter (Etheostoma nuchale) is a small, reddish perciform fish with colorful fins which lives in the Black Warrior River drainage basin near Birmingham. To date it has only been found in a few locations in streams in Powderly, Roebuck Spring, and Thomas Spring and Glenn Springs in Bessemer, plus a reserve population planted in Pinson. Originally these populations would have been connected, but today the waterways that link them are either too polluted or altered for the populations to mingle.

The species is named for its preferred habitat in the "watercress zone" of springs. It feeds on snails, crustaceans and insect larvae. The largest known female was 2.5 inches in length, but the fish are generally 1 to 1.8 inches long. Green sunfish, bluegills, and sculpins are known to prey on watercress darters.

The species is endangered and is protected by Federal and state laws. Protected habitats such as the Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge and Seven Springs Ecoscape help to conserve the species. In 2023, Howell published History of Birmingham’s Endangered Watercress Darter.

History

The watercress darter was discovered in 1964 by Mike Howell and R. D. Caldwell in Glenn Springs, a tributary of Halls Creek, in Bessemer. Another population was not found until 1976, when a second was found in Thomas Spring, another tributary of Halls Creek in Bessemer. In 1980, Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge was established around Thomas Spring exclusively to protect the rare fish.

In the 1980s the fish was also discovered in the small stream that runs in front of the Hawkins Recreation Center, and in a small pond just south of the Alabama Department of Youth Services Vacca Campus. Darters have also been found in the stream below the dam as it winds through the Roebuck Municipal Golf Course and flows into Village Creek. As a result, the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board agreed to stop using pesticides near the edge of the stream, which increased its fish population, including the watercress darter.

In 1986 a reserve population of darters was planted at Penny Springs in Pinson by Howell, leading a "recovery team" sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In the early 2000s, the fish was also found in a spring that flows in front of Faith Apostolic Church in Powderly by Samford University professors Mike Howell and Larry Davenport. Seven Springs EcoScape, a park designed to protect the darter, opened adjacent to the church on April 13, 2008. Additional property along Nabors Branch has been dedicated as wildlife preserves by the Seven Springs Watercress Darter Coalition and by a conservation easement negotiated with Freshwater Land Trust by property owner Emily Godsey.

Roebuck fish kill

In September 2008 the earthen dam at Roebuck-Hawkins Park was demolished by Birmingham Department of Public Works crews. An estimated 11,760 individual fish were killed, in part because their instinct when surprised by moving water is to seek shelter in the grasses at the pond's edge rather than to swim with the current. Federal and state wildlife officials collected specimens, developed a pond restoration plan, and began an investigation which may have led to criminal charges. Mayor Larry Langford requested that Balch & Bingham represent the city in defending itself against possible action.

Under the restoration plan another temporary sandbag dam was built, bringing the pond depth back to about 12 inches. An aerator was used to restore oxygen levels and teams of biologists and volunteers frequently monitored water quality and observed any signs of changes in the fish population. A non-native crayfish population that had been preying on the fish was also eradicated. The temporary dam was later replaced with a tamper-proof dam specially designed for the pond. By June 2009 scientists from the University of Alabama found about half as many individual fish in the pond as in previous years.

On June 24, 2010, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a fine of $2,975,000 against the city. The Service said the city was initially helpful in restoring the habitat, but has not responded to further measures needed to protect the fish. In January 2012, it was reported that a settlement had been proposed in which the federal government would drop the fine if Birmingham donated $182,000 to the Freshwater Land Trust and continue its efforts to protect the pond's fragile ecosystem.

Watercress Darter Festival

On April 10, 2011, the Freshwater Land Trust and Southern Environmental Center hosted the first Watercress Darter Festival at Railroad Park to help raise awareness of the fish. The event featured watercress darter kites for sale, performance art, and food from George’s Boxcar Café. Proceeds went to the Southern Environmental Center's Community Ecoscapes program.

Watercress darter (Etheostoma nuchale)
Habitats Glenn Springs · Nabors Branch · Roebuck Spring · Tapawingo Springs · Thomas Spring · Turkey Creek
Preserves Seven Springs Ecoscape · Turkey Creek Nature Preserve · Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge
People R. D. Caldwell (co-discoverer) · Larry Davenport · Mike Howell (co-discoverer) · Heron Johnson

References

External links

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