18
Shor e l i n e S
|
2014 Vol :4
see changed or improved," said Jason
Carlee, water field services supervisor
with Alabama Power Environmental
Affairs. "The Weiss bypass is one issue
that has been an ongoing concern
for stakeholders. Returning flows to
that section of the river is something
we worked with stakeholders and
cooperative agencies to do."
The new water flow provides better
conditions to help restore the federally
endangered Southern clubshell mussel
and other aquatic life.
"The Southern clubshell and
all freshwater mussel species pretty
much are dependent upon flow and
water," said Jeff Powell, an aquatic
biologist with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. "They don't survive
in impounded waters that are backed
up, where temperatures warm up,
water quality degrades, and oxygen is
no longer in the water high enough
"IT TOOK GOOD PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER
WITH A COMMON PURPOSE
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN."
– S TA N CO O K , CHIEF O F FISHER IES FO R T HE A L A B A M A
D EPA R TM EN T O F CO NSER VAT I O N A ND N AT UR A L R ES O URCES.
Left: Photo by nik layman — Paul Johnson of the
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources surveys the first flow restoration in the state.
