POWERGRAMS

ENVIRONMENT Photo by Zac Napier Tiny fish gets boost with dam destruction, company-supported creek bank restoration Turkey Creek dam being demolished after nearly a century. Photo by Eric Spadgenske For nearly a century, a small dam on Turkey Creek in Jefferson County has threatened the survival of a tiny fish found nowhere else in the world. But after years of planning, the dam is about to come down – which will help expand the limited habitat of the vermilion darter and improve water quality for nearby communities. After the dam is removed, the site will be restored to its natural condition, extending by a half-mile the darter's range. The project is being coordinated by the Vermilion darter nonprofit Freshwater Land Trust, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and support from Alabama Power and other project partners. The 85-foot-wide, concrete dam was built in the early 1920s to create a commercial fishing and swimming area. But years ago the swimming hole filled with sediment, causing the dam to become an environmental and safety hazard. Not only does the dam restrict and threaten the viability of the vermilion darter – a tiny, brilliantly colored fish that is on the federal endangered species list – it also hampers upstream migration for other aquatic species, including snails and mollusks. Eric Spadgenske, with the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the project's impact goes beyond protecting and expanding habitat for important species. He said it 2 will improve the quality of water used by people across the county. "The fish are an indicator of the quality of the water. This is about protecting water for people." Spadgenske praised the diverse partnership that came together to fund the project. Alabama Power and parent Southern Company are supporting restoration of the natural creek banks. That portion of the project is funded through the Five Star Restoration Program, which involves Alabama Power, Southern Company, the nonprofit National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Clay Mayor Charles Webster was among government officials who recently visited the dam before deconstruction began. His is among the municipalities supporting the project, along with Pinson, which is home to the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, an important recreation and education asset for the region. Webster praised the partnership and Alabama Power's involvement. He said the city recently annexed land near the dam, which could be joined with the protected property surrounding the dam. He envisions connecting the sites with walking trails. "I'm really excited about it," he said. The dam is expected to be removed before December. To learn more about Alabama Power's efforts to protect the environment, click "Environment" on alabamapower.com. By Michael Sznajderman Facts about the Turkey Creek Dam removal • The poured concrete dam (6 feet tall, 85 feet wide, about 20 inches thick) was built in the early 1920s to make a fishing and swimming hole. • According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it is one of the five impoundments along Turkey and Dry creeks that are a threat to the endangered vermilion darter. • Removing the dam will reopen a half-mile of habitat for the darter and other aquatic species. • Action Environmental, a partner in the project, is removing the dam at a highly discounted price. • The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from Alabama Power and others, will fund restoration, including using debris from the dam to stabilize the new creek banks and replanting native vegetation. Facts about the vermilion darter • The vermilion darter is known to live only in a 7.2-mile segment of Turkey Creek and in two adjacent tributaries near Pinson in northern Jefferson County. • In 2001 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the fish as endangered. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has designated the species as Priority 1 (highest level of conservation concern) for its extremely limited number and distribution and its susceptibility to pollution.

• Cover