Why this unique Alabama fish is called the “Salmon of the South”

ByPat Byington
LAST UPDATED06/08/26

Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher

Reading time: 1 minute

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Two small darters in a shallow container, one displaying vivid teal and orange markings, the other with muted brown patterning — Male and female Trispot Darter. (Anakela P. Escobar / Limestone Valley RC&D in Georgia)

In Alabama’s cool streams and bubbling waterways, a small fish is causing big waves. After decades without a sighting in Alabama, a 2008 spotting of the rare Trispot Darter in a creek near Springville prompted a transformative project to remove migratory barriers from Alabama’s streams.

In our first edition about fish migration, we examined the challenges a number of Alabama fish confront when they attempt to migrate, much like birds, butterflies or Pacific Northwest salmon.

In our second story, we look at why helping small fish migrate up and down our rivers matters. Check out the full second story here: Why this unique Alabama fish is called the “Salmon of the South”.

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Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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