Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge

Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge is a 25-acre (100,000 m²) National Wildlife Refuge located in Jefferson County, Alabama, within the city limits of Bessemer. Watercress Darter NWR consists of a .25-acre (1,000 m²) pond known as Thomas Spring which is essential to the survival of the endangered watercress darter. A second pond was built on the site in 1983. The facility is unstaffed, but is administered by the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge in Anniston, Alabama.

Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Watercress Darter NWR
Location	Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Nearest city	Bessemer, Alabama
Coordinates	33.374647°N 86.962892°W / 33.374647; -86.962892
Area	24.52 acres (9.92 ha)[1]
Established	1980
Visitors	3,000 (in 2005)
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Watercress Darter NWR

Wildlife

Watercress Darter

The facility operates exclusively to protect the endangered watercress darter.

Facilities

The refuge is open to the public and offers limited opportunities for hiking and wildlife photography. Fishing is not permitted on the refuge for the protection of the watercress darter.

See also

• List of National Wildlife Refuges

References

1. "National Wildlife Refuges - Acres by State and Unit" (PDF). US Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 6 September 2016.

External links

• Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge homepage
• Recreation.gov overview