SHORELINES

Funding for the project came from Alabama Power, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, and Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), with additional in-kind services from Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Lee Holt and David McCaghren of USFWS and Kellie Johnston of Cawaco Resource, Conservation and Development Council were instrumental in planning and coordinating funding, while Todd Green of Contech helped design and build the bridge. Alabama Power crew members helped operate machinery and provided needed materials. "e intent was to improve upstream migration by eliminating the barrier posed by the two culverts, while also improving and restoring the natural hydrology of the stream," said Holt, a biologist for the USFWS Alabama Field Office. Follow-up site visits will be conducted to monitor the trispot darter and assess the project's impact. "e relationship between Alabama Power Company and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alabama Field Office is outstanding and based on trust and professionalism," said Jeff Powell, deputy supervisor - USFWS Alabama Field Office. "We have made great things happen together, including down-listing the tulotoma snail from endangered to threatened; enhanced protections for species like the flattened musk turtle, Black Warrior waterdog and rough hornsnail; improving red-cockaded woodpecker habitat; reintroduction of several rare mollusk species; and more." 12 | 2019 Vol: 4

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