After reviewing and incorporating information from the public and the scientific community, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today identified approximately 228 river miles and 29 acres of critical habitat in, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama; and Arkansas, that contain aquatic habitat essential to the conservation of the Cumberland darter, rush darter, yellowcheek darter, Chucky madtom, and laurel dace, five species of fish protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The critical habitat designation includes areas in McCreary and Whitley counties, Kentucky; Campbell, Scott, Bledsoe, Rhea, Sequatchie, and Greene counties, Tennessee; Etowah, Jefferson, and Winston counties, Alabama; and Cleburne, Searcy, Stone, and Van Buren counties, Arkansas.
The Cumberland darter, rush darter, yellowcheek darter, Chucky madtom, and laurel dace are all species of fish that were first protected under the ESA in August 2011.
