BESSEMER, Ala. (WBMA) — The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to secure Endangered Species Act protection for the Birmingham darter, a rare fish species it believes is facing extinction due to a proposed data center in Bessemer.
The Birmingham darter, known for its turquoise fins and red-streaked bodies, is found only in Valley Creek and its tributaries, with just six populations remaining. The proposed data center, consisting of 18 large buildings, threatens to dewater these habitats and pollute the surrounding rural community, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.
Will Harlan, Southeast director at the Center for Biological Diversity, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “These phenomenal fish will slide further toward extinction if this data center is built, so we have to act fast.”…