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Fish River (Alabama)

Alabama geography stubsRivers of AlabamaRivers of Baldwin County, AlabamaSouthern United States river stubsTributaries of Mobile Bay
Fish River (Alabama)
Fish River (Alabama)

Fish River is a 28.9-mile-long (46.5 km) river in Baldwin County, Alabama. It originates at 30.74102°N 87.79888°W / 30.74102; -87.79888, near Stapleton, and discharges into Weeks Bay at 30.41353°N 87.82526°W / 30.41353; -87.82526 in Magnolia Springs. It was named by the original French colonists as the Riviere Aux Poissons, which can be translated into English as Fish River. The river runs through mostly rural areas but is traversed by US Highway 31, Interstate 10 and US Highway 90. The Wiese Family Nature Preserve, owned by the Weeks Bay Foundation, extends along the northernmost portion of the river and protects the habitat along the entire river. Among the wildlife seen along Fish River are bald eagles. The eagles were wiped out in Alabama but have made a comeback including nests along the river. Some areas around the river are also noted as roosting areas for vultures. A pitcher plant bog borders Fish River and boasts 91 species of plants. Both fresh and saltwater species of fish are found in the river. Freshwater species are found in the upper parts of the river while saltwater fish, namely flounder, redfish and speckled trout, are found closer to Weeks Bay. Occasionally grass shrimp are found in the river which is considered excellent bait for fishing.Fish River is part of the tidal system associated with Mobile Bay. Tidal fluctuations vary between 1 and 1.5 feet.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Fish River (Alabama) (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Fish River (Alabama)
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Latitude Longitude
N 30.41353 ° E -87.82526 °
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Weeks Bay Resource Center

US 98 11525
36532
Alabama, United States
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Fish River (Alabama)
Fish River (Alabama)
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Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

The Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a field laboratory and research facility along Weeks Bay estuary, about 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) in size. It receives freshwater from the Magnolia and Fish Rivers, and drains a 198 square miles (510 km2) watershed into the portion of Mobile Bay via a narrow opening. This sub-estuary of Mobile Bay averages just 4.8 ft (1.5 meters) deep and is fringed with marsh (Spartina, Juncus) and swamp (pine, oak, magnolia, maple, cypress, bayberry, tupelo and others). The reserve lands also include upland and bottomland hardwood forests, freshwater marsh (Typha, Cladium), submerged aquatic vegetation (Ruppia, Vallisneria) and unique bog habitats (Sarracenia, Drosera). Weeks Bay is a critical nursery for shrimp, bay anchovy, blue crab and multitudes of other fish, crustaceans and shellfish that support robust commercial fisheries providing $450 million/year for Alabama. The Weeks Bay Reserve includes over 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) of coastal wetlands and water bottoms that provide rich and diverse habitats for a variety of fish, crustaceans and shellfish, as well as many unique and rare plants. The Weeks Bay estuary, "where rivers meet the sea," is an important site of scientific research on estuarine ecology. The Weeks Bay Interpretive Center offers the public opportunities to learn about coastal habitats through its exhibit, live animals displays and collections of animals and regional plants. Self-guiding nature trails wind through wetlands, marshes, bogs and forests.In 2014, the Reserve joined with other conservancy groups to secure a tract of land which now protects the undeveloped marine forests near the bay. The Weeks Bay Foundation is a fully accredited member of The Land Trust Alliance.