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Habitat Conservation
Conservation Education

PROJECT FOCUS AREAS

HABITAT CONSERVATION & CONSERVATION EDUCATION

Conservation Initiative

The Buttahatchie River flows approximately 75 miles from its headwaters in northwestern Alabama to the confluence with the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in northeastern Mississippi.

This river is home to six federally threatened and endangered mussel species. Mississippi lists another 20 species of mussels, fish, turtles, crayfish, and salamanders as critically imperiled or of special concern.

The Gulf Coast strain of walleye in the Buttahatchie River

One notable fish species occurring there is the Gulf Coast strain of walleye. Much of the bottomland hardwood forest and cypress-tupelo swamp habitat along the lower part of the river has been converted to non-forest uses, especially gravel mining.

The Gulf Coast strain of walleye in the Buttahatchie River. Credit: Shutterstock

Wildlife Mississippi and its partners established the Buttahatchie River Initiative to provide a watershed approach to enhancing, restoring, and protecting habitats; enhancing and protecting wildlife populations; and improving and protecting water quality.

Erosion along the Buttahatchie River
Extensive sand and gravel mining has caused erosion and habitat loss in the lower Buttahatchie. Credit: Wildlife Mississippi/Bruce Reid

Conservation Projects

A number of conservation projects are underway or planned at sites owned by Wildlife Mississippi and elsewhere along the river with other landowners. The projects include

  • use of Buttahatchie River lands for the mitigation of wetland and stream losses within the Tombigbee River Basin
  • bottomland hardwood forest enhancement and restoration
  • protection of riparian corridors
  • establishment of conservation easements
  • bank stabilization
  • removal of fish passage impediments
  • encouragement of best-management practices among agricultural and forest landowners
  • stocking of walleye
  • surveys of mussel populations

Project Partners

Partnering with Wildlife Mississippi on this project are private landowners; Mississippi Land Trust; Mississippi Department of Transportation; Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks; Federal Highway Administration; the U.S. Air Force; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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