Freshwater Habitat
Reports
Inventory and Prioritization of Impaired Sites in the Yellow River Watershed in Alabama and Florida - Final Report, November 2011 (Legacy 09-432): (PDF)
The Yellow River is a biologically diverse blackwater river which flows through Alabama and Florida into Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Historically a relatively undisturbed system, it is increasingly impacted by human population growth and development. The Yellow River Basin has been identified as a conservation priority by the Eglin Air Force Base, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the states of Alabama and Florida, and The Nature Conservancy. This project assessed 208 miles of river and identified areas contributing to habitat degradation and impairment in the Yellow River Basin as an initial step in conserving and restoring natural function and biodiversity throughout the system. This document inventories and assesses habitat degradation within the river corridor and at unpaved road crossings throughout the basin, summarizes impacts and restoration potential at each impaired location, and developed a prioritized basin restoration plan for implementing conservation and restoration efforts. While specific to the Yellow River Basin, the general recommendations and methods may be applicable to other major river watersheds.
