Hi Gang,
Here's a little pictorial of our Paint Rock, Alabama, excursion.
Although I've done some photography, this is the first time I've ever tried to shoot fish.
I'm also rather new to the world of digital, so give an old guy a break! These shots are
all at the Estill Fork of the Paint Rock River, just east of Huntsville, AL, on 5/26/01.
(Click on the little pictures to display larger ones.)
Enjoy!
Casper Cox (Chattanooga, TN) scouting our targets.
Fundulus catenatus - I only managed to catch 2 of these.
Greenside darter - At least, I think so. He wouldn't hold still!
L - R: Bruce Stallsmith (Huntsville, AL), Vitaly (Birmingham, AL), Nick Sharp (Huntsville,
AL), Dave Neely (Tuscaloosa, AL, or anywhere in North America where fish live), &
Casper Cox (Chattanooga, TN). Not pictured, Steven A. Ellis (Kennesaw, GA, I'm on the
backside of the camera).
Our NANFA President, Bruce Stallsmith and our new Russian friend, Vitaly, discussing
post-cold war collecting.
Rainbow darter
Tennessee snubnose darter
I apologize again for the poor photographic quality of these pics, but I wanted to give you a little Southern sampler. The beauty of the South is positively intoxicating this time of year. Add to that the excellent mix of personalities in our group, and good times are bound to happen. Somehow, we compatably combine a great appreciation of life science and a love of God's creation, with respect for the differences...and the similarities.
If your summer plans take you through the South, post your itinerary. Chances are very good that some of us can lead you to the fish! Now, get out there and collect.
All The Best,
Steven A. Ellis
Kennesaw, GA
P.S. The following paragraph came from http://www.alawild.org/summer_00_2.htm:
Further north in the mountains of Jackson County, the Paint Rock River watershed is part of the Tennessee-Cumberland freshwater region which is ranked number one in the U.S. for at-risk species of fish and mussels. The Paint Rock contains the only known populations for two globally critically imperiled mussel species, the Alabama lampmussel (Lampsilis virescens) and pale lilliput (Toxolasma cylindrellus), and one of only two known populations for the globally critically imperiled fish the palezone shiner (Notropis albizonatus). The Paint Rock watershed is still a healthy viable system, largely due to the fact that its headwaters are cloaked in large contiguous forested lands. Continued compatible land use will be key to the long-term health and preservation of this incredible watershed.
P.P.S. Here are some descriptions of the trip from the NANFA email discussion list:
Bruce Stallsmith
Huntsville, Alabama
We lucked out on Saturday for a trip mostly to the Paint Rock Valley in Jackson
County, AL. The weather was clear and about 78 F. Six people started out on the trip, and
by the next day (!) only two continued. Our primary destination was the Estill Fork of the
Paint Rock River, and we found 33 species at this site. It's an old ford that is now
crossed by a low concrete bridge that lets water flow through underneath in pipes; a broad
stream above is concentrated in a pool about 4 feet deep below the bridge, and then a
riffle system begins. Our only contact with local people was when a guy stopped his truck
on the bridge and told us that this stream is really good for baptisms, were we
interested? I told him that flowing water is holy, he agreed, and drove off. (The species
lists were compiled by Dave Neely, I'm attempting to edit this all together.)
Estill Fork at County Road 140, Jackson Co, AL. 26 May 2001 Dave Neely, Casper Cox, Bruce Stallsmith, Steven Ellis, Nick Sharp, Vitaly from Birmingham. Mostly snorkelling, some collecting with seine and dip net. Notes: Beautiful gravel, lush water willow beds, crystal clear water at 65 F, pH 7.6 and TDS 160 ppm. Species observed: longnose gar, largescale stoneroller, streamline chub, bigeye chub, striped shiner, scarletfin shiner, mountain shiner, palezone shiner (federally endangered, all released immediately!), bigeye shiner, Tennessee shiner, telescope shiner, sawfin shiner, bluntnose minnow, northern hogsucker, shorthead redhorse, black or golden redhorse, mosquitofish, northern studfish, blackspotted topminnow, banded sculpin, rock bass, bluegill, longear sunfish, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rainbow darter, fantail darter, stripetail darter, redline darter, Tennessee snubnose darter, greenside darter, blueside darter, blotchside logperch.
Driving out from Estill Fork and down the Paint Rock valley, four of us were caravaning down the main road. As we passed out of the small town of Princeton we noticed a small cinderblock springhouse on the right, built into the base of a worn limestone clif face. A spring run passed under the road and along the edge of a cow pasture. We stopped, asked permission to poke around, and kick-seined the pasture and investigated the spring as it came out of the cliff. The darters we found were in brilliant breeding coloration, the most vivid Tennessee snubnoses I've ever seen. Casper took them back to the farm house in a Glad bag and showed them to the family. They were visibly startled and impressed. As we packed up our gear across the road from the spring run, the cows came down, stared at us, and proceeded to drink water. Beason Spring on AL Hwy 65, Princeton, Jackson Co., AL Dave Neely, Casper Cox, Bruce Stallsmith, Steven Ellis. Notes: abundant watercress, in cow pasture. Collected with seine only. Species observed: striped shiner, sawfin shiner, blacknose dace, banded sculpin, mosquitofish, rainbow darter, Tennessee snubnose darter, hybrid green x bluegill sunfish
Next we went to another striking spring, also at the base of an even higher limestone cliff face. Blue Spring is circular, about 50 feet across, probably 6+ feet deep in the middle and has a spring run. The water even made Casper complain about how cold it was! The Johnny darters were an interesting find; they have a disjunct distribution in the Paint Rock valley, and far to the southwest below the fall line they're common. They were the first I've seen. Blue Spring on County Road 20, Jackson Co., AL Dave Neely, Casper Cox, Bruce Stallsmith, Steven Ellis. Notes: bluish water, very cold. No vegetation. Collected with seine only. Species observed: striped shiner, blacknose dace, mottled sculpin, banded sculpin, bluegill, rainbow darter, stripetail darter, johnny darter, Tennessee snubnose darter, blueside darter, greenside darter.
This was the end of the trip for myself and Steven Ellis. Casper and Dave crashed somewhere along the western edge of Jackson County and continued yesterday:
Selby Spring off of Co Rd 145, Jackson Co., AL. 27 May 2001. Dave
Neely, Casper Cox.
Notes: beautiful cliff faces and small cave. Collected with dip net only. Species
observed: blacknose dace, banded sculpin.
Isbell Spring, Jackson Co., AL. Dave Neely, Casper Cox.
Notes: Nice cave system with knee-deep water at entrance. Collected with seine, dip net.
Species observed: banded sculpin, bluegill.
Flint River at Winchester Rd near Bell Factory, Madison Co., AL
Dave Neely, Casper Cox.
Notes: slightly turbid- visibility about 2 ft. Didn’t stay long… snorkeling
only. Species observed: largescale stoneroller, striped shiner, northern hogsucker,
rainbow darter, Tennessee snubnose darter, dusky darter.
This site is one of my personal faves that I often visit with just a dipnet. Using a seine increases the species count dramatically. I've also found greenside darters and stripetail darters at this site. Mountain Fork at Old Mountain Fork Rd, Madison Co., AL. Dave Neely, Casper Cox. Notes: Large spring ca. 2 mi. upstream. Abundant vegetation, including lots of parrotfeather, riverweed, pondweed, others. Water clear and cold. Snorkelling, seine. Species observed: largescale stoneroller, striped shiner, scarletfin shiner, flame chub, bluntnose minnow, white sucker, northern hogsucker, black or golden redhorse, mosquitofish, banded sculpin, rock bass, bluegill, green sunfish, longear sunfish, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rainbow darter, blackfin darter, Tennessee snubnose darter.
The following is a very public site that I've never collected,
The cool find here was a large flame chub population. Mountain Fork at Winchester Rd in
New Market, Madison Co., AL. Dave Neely, Casper Cox.
Notes: immediately below small dam. Water clear, nice gravel riffles at site. Some silt,
lots of very slippery bedrock. Species observed: largescale stoneroller, striped shiner,
scarletfin shiner, flame chub (abundant!), bluntnose minnow, white sucker, northern
hogsucker, mosquitofish, banded sculpin, rock bass, bluegill, largemouth bass, rainbow
darter, blackfin darter, Tennessee snubnose darter.
The big news of all of this is the sheer fish diversity in the Tennessee valley. We found more species of freshwater fishes in the corners of two counties than can be found in many states. The Tennessee Valley super-region hopes to get out in the field again in about a month. Tentatively the next trip will be hosted by Dave Neely in the greater Tuscaloosa area, maybe along the forks of the Warrior River.
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Casper Cox
Chattanooga, Tennessee
hey guys! thanks to dr dave and prez bruce for writing up a great fish list and post on a
wonderful trip. im really thankful dave took time to share his knowledge with us. i wish
him luck on his grant quest and am always eager to help him anyway i can. Ive got to get
some felt shoes to keep up with this young buck! its mighty slippery on some of those flat
algaed rocks. we had a pretty good time setting traps in the darkand wandering streams
with hi-intensity lights. pretty cool er cold... especially when you trip and fall in! :).
we got to see a lot of interesting critters. cave salamanders, snappers, gar. hoped to see
another hellbender.
bruce mentioned a upcoming trip... we had discussed a 2 day trip to the sipsey west fork river in winston county. this is a beautiful sand bottomed wide river that has a wonderful diversity. My son and i visited it a month ago. it is located in central upper alabama near double springs and natural bridge ( also a neat area... big rock formations and patterns with a spring creek running thru its midst ). mid summer... july or early august would be good. anyone interested? we would like to get a camp on the stream side or sand bar if we could get a good location. perhaps we could all arrive the night before and get a motel... or better if someone could scout a camping site on the water. this would be a good central location for a lot of nanfa members too.
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Steven A. Ellis
Kennesaw, Georgia
After waiting for my betters to post the official report (nice job,
Bruce), I'll add just a little.
What a great day! The weather was perfect. After a moment of silence for Slim Aguilar, the six of us spread out in this beautiful stream, employing a number of collecting methods. With three cameras present, this may also turn out to be one of the TV region's best documented excursions. The Estill Fork location was easy to work, even for the middle-aged members of the crew. I can't remember when I've seen such a clean, plentiful stream.
I can't stress enough, as a novice, the benefits of collecting with highly educated professionals. Each time out adds to the body of working knowledge, and increases the appreciation of aquatic life. One immediate benefit is having instant ID of the fish. When I collect alone, I often have to throw back some really beautiful fish if I'm uncertain whether they are endangered or not. In this respect, Dave Neely is a human field guide. When he ID's the endangered ones, I am able to watch out for them later. Also, Bruce is able to impart information about streams, plants, etc. in a way that is even palatable to a creationist. I haven't yet tried snorkeling, but the wonder that Casper describes below the surface of the water is getting me closer all the time. If any human ever grows gills, I'm betting on him!
If you're in the region for the next meet, I encourage you to come out. I tend to forget how nice Alabama is until I visit. The fare ranges from moonpies to watermelon. Who knows, maybe next trip it'll be biscuits & gravy! Either way, my tanks have some wonderful new fish in them.