The overarching goal of this project is to improve habitat for imperiled aquatic species in south alabama

To achieve this goal, wiregrass resource conservation and development project INC (wiregrass RC d) seeks to work collaboratively with the U.S. Fish and wildlife service partners for fish and wildlife program (PFW) and private landowners in alabama to restore, enhance, and protect aquatic freshwater habitat for the benefit of imperiled and endemic species. This will be performed through this cooperative agreement to deliver cost-assistance to private landowners for restoration activities. Restoration activities executed through private landowner agreements aim to reduce the volume of sediment and pollutants entering focal watersheds, as well as connecting habitat by removing barriers to fish passage. Suspended sediments beyond naturally occurring levels have been found to disrupt key aspects of mussel physiology including decreasing the efficiency of respiration, decreasing fertilization success, and decreasing the efficiency of feeding. Restoration activities potentially supported through this financial award to reduce the volume of suspended sediment include the establishment of wide riparian buffers, implementing sustainable cattle practices, and improving river crossings primarily on unpaved roads. Barriers to fish passage, including dams and perched culverts, fragment habitat and populations. Restoration activities potentially supported through this financial award include the removal of these barriers along critical habitat and within focal watersheds in south alabama. IT is anticipated that through this cooperative agreement, multiple species of petitioned, threatened, and endangered species will benefit including alabama pearlshell (margaritifera marrianae, endangered), choctaw bean (obovaria choctawensis, endangered), fuzzy pigtoe (pleurobema strodeanum, threatened), tapered pigtoe (fusconaia burkei, threatened) and narrow pigtoe (fusconaia escambia, threatened).