Bishop Heron Johnson

A Birmingham-area pastor who conservationists describe as a “modern day Noah” was honored recently for his efforts to protect a tiny, colorful fish that exists only in Jefferson County.

Bishop Heron Johnson, pastor of Faith Apostolic Church, located in the Powderly community of Birmingham, was recognized with a lifetime achievement award by the North Carolina-based nonprofit organization, Wild South.

Johnson was among seven individuals honored by the group, which works to protect public lands across the Southeast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJcCHpEpe-w

“We’re inspired by these conservation heroes who have given so much of themselves to help save wild places and wild things in the South. Their stories remind us that the greatest conservation achievements are rooted in personal passion,” Ben Colvin, Wild South’s director of development, said in a news release.

Johnson and his congregation have joined with others to protect a population of the watercress darter, a rainbow-tinged fish that grows no larger than 2 ½ inches.

The darter, a federally endangered species found in only four locations in Jefferson County and nowhere else in the world, was discovered in a freshwater spring on the church’s property in 2002. The site is now protected as part of the Seven Springs Ecoscape, a small park and preserve created by the nonprofit Southern Environmental Center, based at nearby Birmingham-Southern College. The nonprofit Freshwater Land Trust, also based in Birmingham, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also partnered in the project, along with Alabama Power.

*EcoScape photos courtesy of Arnie Rutkis

“Bishop Johnson truly is a modern day Noah,” said Wendy Jackson, executive director of the Freshwater Land Trust, which works to preserve “places that matter” in north-central Alabama. “Through his vision and guidance, one of God’s creatures that was on the brink of extinction is being protected for future generations,” Jackson said.

*EcoScape photos courtesy of Arnie Rutkis

The Birmingham area is actually home to three rare species of darter. In addition to the watercress darter, there is the vermilion darter, also known for its brilliant coloring, and the rush darter. They will all be celebrated April 18 during the fourth annual Darter Festival, taking place at Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham. The event benefits the Southern Environmental Center’s community education programs.