Kentucky Fish Protected, With 248 Stream Miles
Under the Center's 757 species agreement, the Fish and Wildlife Service has protected a small fish called the Kentucky arrow darter under the Endangered Species Act, along with 248 miles of streams. The fish has been lost from about half its historical range due primarily to water pollution.
"The Kentucky arrow darter and the streams it depends on -- like Troublesome Creek, where I grew up -- have been absolutely devastated by surface coal mining," said Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center. "Endangered Species Act protection will not only help the darter survive, but also people, who have to live with polluted water and air from coal mining every single day."
In addition to coal mining, the Kentucky arrow darter is threatened by logging, oil and gas well development, agricultural runoff and inadequate sewage treatment.
Read more in the Lexington Herald Dealer.