Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge
| Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
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Watercress Darter NWR
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| Location | Jefferson County, Alabama, United States |
| Nearest city | Bessemer, Alabama |
| Coordinates | 33°22′29″N 86°57′46″W / 33.374647°N 86.962892°WCoordinates: 33°22′29″N 86°57′46″W / 33.374647°N 86.962892°W |
| Area | 24.52 acres (9.92 ha) |
| Established | 1980 |
| Visitors | 3,000 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Watercress Darter NWR |
Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge is a 25-acre (100,000 m2) National Wildlife Refuge located in Jefferson County, Alabama, within the city limits of Bessemer. Watercress Darter NWR consists of a .25-acre (1,000 m2) pond known as Thomas Spring which is essential to the survival of the endangered watercress darter. A second pond was built on the site in 1983. The facility is unstaffed, but is administered by the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge in Anniston, Alabama.
The facility operates exclusively to protect the endangered watercress darter.
The refuge is open to the public and offers limited opportunities for hiking and wildlife photography. Fishing is not permitted on the refuge for the protection of the watercress darter.
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