[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22.7″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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Several Auburn University Water Resources Center (AUWRC) team members attended an Urban Darter Training in the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve<\/a> in October 2021. The training was hosted jointly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Geological Survey of Alabama<\/a>, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Alabama Forestry Association<\/a>, Cawaco RC&D<\/a>, Freshwater Land Trust<\/a>, and the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.<\/span><\/p>\n Jason Throneberry and Alana Reynolds of The Nature Conservancy in Alabama<\/a> trained attendees on the Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI). BEHI is a procedure for assessing current streambank erosion and potential for future streambank erosion. It was developed by Dave Rosgen, a professional hydrologist and geomorphologist who is a leading figure in the science of restoring rivers. Assessing bank erosion is important because excess sediment is one of the biggest threats to water quality and aquatic species in Alabama\u2019s rivers. Jason and Alana spend much of their time assessing BEHI on Alabama\u2019s major rivers. They demonstrated how they assign point values to several aspects of bank condition. The points are used to calculate an overall score that can be used to inventory streambank conditions over large areas and prioritize resources to those banks of Alabama rivers that are most in need of restoration.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Road-Stream-Crossing-EB.jpeg” alt=”Road Stream Crossing” title_text=”Road-Stream-Crossing-EB” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n West and participants at a road-stream crossing during the training. Photo Credit: Eve Brantley<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Daniel West, Environmental Scientist in the Ecosystems Investigations Program at the Geological Survey of Alabama (GSA), trained attendees on how to assess road-stream crossings. With over 210,000 miles of roads and over 132,000 miles of rivers and streams in Alabama, there are a lot of points where roads and streams or rivers intersect. Poorly designed or poorly maintained road-stream crossings can lead to increased stream bank erosion and create habitat connectivity problems within the ecosystem of a watershed. Many species of fish need to move upstream to their birthing grounds to reproduce. A poorly designed road-stream crossing can inhibit or cut off access to said<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>birthing grounds. The GSA is interested in training\u00a0<\/span><\/span>environmental\u00a0<\/span><\/span>professionals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>help inventory the tens of thousands of existing road-stream crossings in Alabama in order to identify candidate crossings for retrofitting or replacement. Data collected in a road-stream crossing evaluation include road pavement type (black top, concrete, dirt, etc.), ease of water dispersal, channel morphology, crossing type (bridge, culvert, or ford), crossing structure material, vegetation cover, and slope assessments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Checking-Nets-EB.jpeg” alt=”Checking Nets for Fish” title_text=”Checking-Nets-EB” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||13px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Checking Nets after sampling. Photo Credit: Eve Brantley<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n After instruction on BEHI and road-stream crossing assessment, the group sampled for fish in Turkey Creek.\u00a0 Fish were captured using backpack electrofishing coupled with a seine net and dip nets. Electrofishing is a technique commonly used by biologists to collect fish in freshwater systems such as streams and lakes. An electric field is emitted from a pulser that temporarily stuns the fish, making them easy to capture in nets. Fish will recover, normally in a matter of minutes, and can be returned to the water.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Male-and-Female-Vermillion-Darter-TBD-EB.jpg” alt=”Male and Female Vermillion Darte” title_text=”Male-and-Female-Vermillion-Darter-EB” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||13px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A male (left) and female (right) Vermilion Darter<\/a> (Etheostoma chermocki<\/em>). Photo Credit: Eve Brantley<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The group collected several species, including one of the rarest fish in Alabama: the critically endangered Vermilion Darter. The Vermilion Darter wasn’t described by scientists until 1992 and was swiftly listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1999. The species is endemic to the Turkey Creek watershed that drains nearly 55,000 acres in the most populous county in Alabama: Jefferson County. Vermilion Darters displays sexual dimorphism, meaning the males and females have different physical appearances, heightened during the breeding season (see photo above). This species is small, only reaching between up to 2.5 inches and prefers moderate to swift currents in streams with alternating riffles and pools.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/Black-Suckerfish-EB.jpeg” alt=”Fish in the hands of a sampler” title_text=”Black-Suckerfish-EB” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nBank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI)<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/p>\nRoad-Stream Crossing Assessments<\/span><\/h2>\n
Backpack Electrofishing Sampling<\/span><\/h2>\n
Vermilion Darter<\/span><\/h2>\n