Grants will help restore freshwater habitat for endangered species

<p>May 15 is Endangered Species Day, an opportunity to celebrate and learn about endangered species and how to protect them. Southern Company is proud to work with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to restore habitats for at-risk species.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, NFWF announced nearly $1.1 million in grants to restore and enhance habitats for native and vulnerable freshwater aquatic species in watersheds within Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Texas.</p>
<p>The grants will generate $1.1 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $2.2 million.</p>
<p>The grants were awarded through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfwf.org/programs/southeast-aquatics" target="_blank">Southeast Aquatics Fund</a>, a partnership between NFWF and Southern Company, the U.S. Forest Service, the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“The Southeast has many endangered or at-risk aquatic species, and we’re encouraged to see our partners grow with us as we announce our third year of grants and expand our work to Texas,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “The native habitats this program helps to conserve are absolutely imperative to the recovery of these unique species.”</p>
<p>The projects supported by the six grants announced will improve more than 15 miles of stream habitat and restore 30 acres of wetland and riparian habitat for species such as the trispot darter, bridled darter, vermilion darter, Coosa creekshell mussel, Alabama rainbow trout, Black Warrior waterdog and flattened musk turtle.</p>
<p>These species are either listed under the Endangered Species Act or at-risk of listing, and this work will help improve their trajectories.</p>