Shoal Bass Distribution Facts and Information
In order to protect the Shaol Bass, we believe that introducing the Shoal to other river systems where their is already a presence of bass species will help improve its threatened status.
Shoal bass are found in the Apalachicola river drainages. This drainage system includes the Chattahoochee river system, in Alabama-Georgia; the Flint river system, in Georgia; and Chipola river system, in Florida. In Alabama, shoal bass are found in the Halawakee, Osanippa, Wacoochee, Wehadkee and the little Uchee streams in east-central Alabama. They all flow into the Chattahoochee river and cross the fall line, which demarcates the end of the Appalachian mountain chain in Alabama.
One of the reasons their numbers are dropping is that they cannot survive in still water such as reservoirs, lakes and ponds. Flowing water is critical to the survival of the Shoal Bass. In 2004, Shoal Bass were classified as a species of special concern, just above the endangered classification. However, there has been some success introducing them into Forida and Georgia.
The Shoal Bass has a very limited habitat, which leaves it at risk to environmental disasters and human overfishing and encroachment. Moreover, a lot of the Shoal Bass’s habitat was lost when the building of hydro-electric dams in the area. There is the Woodruff No. 2, Auchumpkee Creek and Potato Creek on the flint river so the Shoal Bass can be found in plenty in the south.
The Chattahoochee river system includes the Lake Lanier, Walter F George Lake, West Point Lake and George W. Andrews Lake to name a few of the dams the shoal bass have to deal with.
In order to protect the Shaol Bass, we believe that introducing the Shoal to other river systems where their is already a presence of bass species will help improve its threatened status.