Biodiversity

Alabama's geography, climate, geologic history, and wealth of water and wetland resources make it one of the most biodiverse regions in the country. In particular, our state is known to have the greatest number of freshwater species of fish and mollusks in the United States. Cypress Creek reflects this diversity, as its habitats are host to a vast array of plants and animal species.

Cypress Creek has been identified as a Strategic Habitat Unit by biologists based upon its numerous and rare aquatic species (Ray et al. 2021). Taking care of this resource is imperative to conserving it for how we use the creek and maintaining its inhabiting species -- some of which live nowhere else in the world.

To learn about some of the common species of Cypress Creek, explore the categories below:

Let us know what species you find by sharing your best creek dweller photos with us on Facebook and Instagram! Tag @muscleshoalsnha and #ourcypresscreek.