Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Newsroom

    Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Air Force official takes a photo of fish in a display tank.Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment, Dr. Ravi Chaudhary snaps a photo of the Okaloosa darter during a ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 2, 2023. The event commemorated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to remove the Okaloosa darter from the endangered and threatened species list. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Rebecca Abordo)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    










Okaloosa darter in a display tank.The Okaloosa darter sits in a display tank during the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ceremony held at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., August 2, 2023. The USFWS deemed it recovered July 28, 2023.The darter is a two-inch, perch-like fish unique and critical to the balance of six clear stream systems within Eglin AFB and draining into two Choctawhatchee Bay bayous in Walton and Okaloosa counties in northwest Florida. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ilka Cole)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    









Biologist is a stream catching a fish.Bill Tate, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fish biologist, catches an Okaloosa darter in a stream Aug. 2, 2023, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The small fish, whose habitat is almost exclusively on the Eglin AFB ranges, became the first fish on Department of Defense lands to be reclassified on the endangered species list. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ilka Cole)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    
Air Force official takes a photo of fish in a display tank.Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment, Dr. Ravi Chaudhary snaps a photo of the Okaloosa darter during a ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 2, 2023. The event commemorated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to remove the Okaloosa darter from the endangered and threatened species list. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Rebecca Abordo)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
        
        Okaloosa darter in a display tank.The Okaloosa darter sits in a display tank during the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ceremony held at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., August 2, 2023. The USFWS deemed it recovered July 28, 2023.The darter is a two-inch, perch-like fish unique and critical to the balance of six clear stream systems within Eglin AFB and draining into two Choctawhatchee Bay bayous in Walton and Okaloosa counties in northwest Florida. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ilka Cole)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
        
        Biologist is a stream catching a fish.Bill Tate, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fish biologist, catches an Okaloosa darter in a stream Aug. 2, 2023, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The small fish, whose habitat is almost exclusively on the Eglin AFB ranges, became the first fish on Department of Defense lands to be reclassified on the endangered species list. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ilka Cole)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
Eglin AFB fish removed from endangered species listPublished Aug. 3, 2023
                    
                    By Ilka Cole
                    
                    
                    96th Test Wing Public Affiars
            **EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --**The **U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service** announced the removal of the Okaloosa darter from the endangered and threatened species **list** during a ceremony Aug. 2 at **Eglin Air Force Base**.

The **Okaloosa darter** is a two-inch, perch-like fish unique and critical to balancing six clear stream systems within Eglin and draining into two Choctawhatchee Bay bayous in Walton and Okaloosa counties in northwest Florida.Biologist holds a net containing a fish.Bill Tate, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fish biologist, holds a net containing an Okaloosa darter in a stream Aug. 2, 2023, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.. It was officially deemed recovered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service July 28, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ilka Cole)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    










When it was listed as endangered in 1973, there were approximately less than 1,500 individual darters. This year on the 50th anniversary of the **Endangered Species Act**, Eglin AFB’s natural resource managers estimate the darter’s population to be more than 600,000. It was officially deemed recovered by the USFWS on July 28.
"More than 30 years of best management practices and partnerships with the USFWS, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the efforts of many others led to the recovery of the Okaloosa darter," said **Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Geraghty**, **96th Test Wing** commander. "We are grateful to everyone who brought this fish back from the brink of extinction to a thriving population on Eglin."  

More than 120 people attended the event at Anderson Pond near the darter’s habitat, including Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks **Shannon Estenoz** and Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment **Dr. Ravi Chaudhary**, 96th TW leadership and members of the local community.A darter fish sits in a tank on a table.The Okaloosa darter sits in a display tank during the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ceremony held at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 2, 2023. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deemed it recovered July 28, 2023.The darter is a two-inch, perch-like fish unique and critical to the balance of six clear stream systems within Eglin AFB and draining into two Choctawhatchee Bay bayous in Walton and Okaloosa counties in northwest Florida.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Ilka Cole)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    










“The staff at Eglin have proven to be incredible conservation engineers. They designed and implemented the recovery of the Okaloosa darter and are steadily and strategically rebuilding the entire ecology of this landscape with no loss to the flexibility of the military mission.” Estenoz said.

The darter’s conversation and recovery are due to environmental stewardship and enduring partnerships between Eglin AFB’s environmental management program, The Eglin Natural Resources Management Team, also known as Jackson Guard, the USFWS, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and several federal, state and local organizations.
“This recovery program is a shining example of how effective partnerships work,” said Bill Tate, USFWS Okaloosa darter recovery lead. “The USFWS, along with Eglin Natural Resources, coordinated the recovery program and capitalized on the expertise and resources available to ensure the best decisions are made for the species.”

According to Bruce Hagedorn, 96th Civil Engineer Group National Resources chief, the most impactful management practices to protect the darter were erosion control, eliminating fish passage barriers and habitat restoration of the creeks on the installation, where 90% of the darters live.

Hagedorn added that these efforts led to the restoration of 363 sites across 627 acres and kept 101,000 tons of sediment from reaching darter inhabited streams.

“Thank you to the entire team for your grit, your stamina, tireless research, partnering across agencies across the decades and for keeping this journey alive,” Chaudhary said about the incredible effort to accomplish this goal.

To learn more about the species and recovery efforts, visit the **Federal Registry**.Okaloosa 



fish 



Jackson Guard 



FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



AFCEC 



environmental 



wildlife management 



Eglin AFB 



Florida 



still alive 



not endangered 



Environmental Management Directorate 



natural resources 



AFMC 



partners 



U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 



Okaloosa Darter 



conservation 



Okaloosa Darter Recovery Plan 



delisted 



endangered species list 



AFIMSC 



Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs 



Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland 



Texas

Related Links
        Tiny fish swims off the endangered species list Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition
                    
                    SECAF, 16th Air Force CC visit America’s Cryptologic WingInnovation
                DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in Hawaii
                    
                    AFWERX accepting applications for spring 2024 fellowship
                    
                    Restoring an F-35A Lightning II: A collaborative endeavorMAJCOM News
                USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander emphasizes five focus areas during AFA Warfare Symposium
                    
                    PACAF welcomes new commander
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil