This unique creature is part of an imperiled community of aquatic organisms in the Gulf of Mexico, where poor water quality and habitat loss have weakened the ecosystem.
Since then, some 430 outdated dams have been removed from U.S. rivers, opening up habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms and letting rivers flow like rivers again.
Wherever possible, landscape design should enhance, expand or create wildlife habitat such as ponds, wetlands, native aquatic and terrestrial plants, and hedgerows.