Jeffrey Drummond of the Freshwater Land Trust by an ongoing habitat restoration project along Village Creek in Roebuck Springs near Birmingham, Alabama

By Glynn Wilson –

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — It only took 10 years after the human-caused environmental disaster, but a habitat restoration project for the endangered watercress darter along Village Creek in Roebuck Springs is finally underway and should be completed by the summer of 2018, according to an announcement just out from the non-profit Freshwater Land Trust.

We’ve received no statement from the city of Birmingham, which faced fines of up to $2.9 million for the illegal breach of a beaver dam. City officials have been been mum on this disaster refusing to comment publicly on ongoing litigation since we first broke the story on it in September, 2008,

The director of Roebuck-Hawkins Park illegally authorized a crane operator to dig its way into a protected pond on Village Creek and destroy a natural beaver dam, without contacting federal or state officials for a permit or permission of any kind. The incident was a clear violation of the federal Endangered Species Act, resulting in the death of about 1,100 endangered watercress darters when the pond drained into the creek.

One of the only pictures ever taken of the beaver dam on Village Creek on Roebuck Springs, Alabama: By Glynn Wilson

At Least 1,000 Endangered Watercress Darters Killed

One of the only photographs that exist of the drained pond on Village Creek after the beaver dam was removed: By Glynn Wilson

After some preliminary efforts to save the fish, the pond and improve the habitat of the creek over the years, the non-profit Freshwater Land Trust got a contract to do more of a restoration project being paid for by the city in lieu of fines under the supervision of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the federal agency that administers the law.

This federally endangered fish is found only within Jefferson County, and Roebuck Springs is one of only five places where the watercress darter is known to exist.

“This restoration project is helpful to ensuring a healthy and stable population of this beautiful fish,” said Jeffrey Drummond, stewardship director at the Freshwater Land Trust. “Our restoration projects at three other sites in Jefferson County have increased darter populations, and we are proud to collaborate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the City of Birmingham to improve the darter’s habitat at Roebuck Springs.”

This project involves removing some of the surrounding asphalt and replacing it with bioretention areas and bioswales. Native plants will also be added to reduce erosion and to serve as a natural filtration for storm water.

“The designed bioswales and retention areas will filter, slow, and cool the stormwater flows, allowing cleaner, healthier water to enter the spring run habitat of the watercress darter,” said Eric Spadgenske, State Coordinator with U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

In the past, the watercress darter population thrived at Roebuck Springs, in part due to a small dam built more than 100 years ago when Don Hawkins Park was first created. In 2008, the dam was removed after beavers built it up and the park management wanted to get rid of the beavers. Faced with fines of up to $2.9 million, the city maintenance staff created a buffer area around the spring in an effort to protect the darter’s habitat.

In 2010, the Freshwater Land Trust proposed to restore and conserve the area, and an agreement between the city and the agency named the organization to facilitate the restoration of the darter’s habitat.

Work is now underway, and restoration is scheduled to be completed this summer, according to the recent announcement.

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