Meet Alabama’s trispot darter – the small fish that loves small streams
The trispot darter is getting by with a little help from some friends.
In 2019 to 2020, Alabama Power and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stepped in to build a bridge and connective waterway off Little Canoe Creek in Springville to further the lifespan and population of the tiny trispot darter. The little fish lived in a series of culverts on a small stream whose waters had eroded its banks. Before the new bridge was constructed, the darters were unable to swim upstream to their natural breeding grounds.
One of the Yellowhammer State’s smallest and most elusive fish, the trispot darter inhabits small, shallow streams, hovering slightly above the creek bed. The 2-inch fish is also found in Georgia and Tennessee.
“The trispot darter is important to the environment because the more diversity we have in the species, the better,” explained Dylan Shaw, Environmental Affairs Specialist at Alabama Power. “We have these little fish, a species that no one has ever heard of, but they’re actually filling these important roles in the ecosystem.
“Alabama Power and its parent company, Southern Company, are very committed to the native species that exist in the waters we operate in and around. It is very important for us to make sure we’re including these species in our conservation plans as we’re going about our duties to provide power.”
