Forty-five species of freshwater fishes have been collected from waters on, or bordering, Berry College Campus. They are listed below, by sampling location. The three main drainages on campus are the Big Dry Creek and Armuchee Creek Drainages, which flow into the Oostanaula River, and the Beech Creek Drainage, which flows into the Coosa River.
Oostanaula River
- Lepidosteus osseus (Longnose Gar)
- Dorosoma cepedianum (Gizzard Shad)
- Campostomus anomalum (Central Stoneroller)
- Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass Carp)
- Cyprinella venusta (Blacktail Shiner)
- Cyprinella callistia (Alabama Shiner)
- Cyprinus carpio (Common Carp)
- Macrhybopsis storiana (Silver Chub)
- Notropis stilbius (Silverstripe Shiner)
- Phenacobius catostomus (Riffle Minnow)
- Carpoides cypinus (Quillback Carpsucker)
- Hypentelium etowanum (Alabama Hogsucker)
- Ictobius babulus (Smallmouth Buffalo)
- Moxostoma duquesnei (Black Redhorse)
- Moxostoma poecilurum (Blacktail Redhorse)
- Ictalurus furcatus (Blue Catfish)
- Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish)
- Cottus carolinae (Banded Sculpin)
- Morone saxatilus (Striped Bass)
- Ambloplites ariomanus (Shadow Bass)
- Lepomis auritus (Redbreast Sunfish)
- Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish)
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Lepomis megalotis (Longear Sunfish)
- Lepomis microlophus (Redear Sunfish)
- Micropterus coosae ((Redeye Bass)
- Micropterus punctulatus (Spotted Bass)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
- Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie)
- Percina caprodes (Logperch)
- Aplodontus grunniens (Freshwater Drum)
Data is from collections on 7 November 1974 and 15 July 1993, Floyd County, Georgia (unpublished data, Game and Fish Division, Department of Natural Resources). The Oostanaula River borders Berry College campus for a short distance. It is a major tributary of the Coosa River (Mobile Basin).
Big Dry Creek
- Campostomus anomalum (Central Stoneroller)
- Cyprinella venusta (Blacktail Shiner)
- Notemigonus crysoleucas (Golden Shiner)
- Cyprinella stilbius (Silverstripe Shiner)
- Semotilus atromaculatus (Creek Chub)
- Moxostoma poecilurum (Blacktail Redhorse)
- Fundulus olivaceus (Blackspotted Topminnow)
- Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish)
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Lepomis megalotis (Longear Sunfish)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
- Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie)
- Percina sp. (Mobile Logperch)
Data from Mettee et al. (1996). Big Dry Creek drains Victory Lake, and enters the Oostanaula River just east of the main academic portion of the campus.
Victory Lake
- Cyprinella venusta (Blacktail Shiner)
- Ameiuris natalis (Yellow Bullhead)
- Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish)
- Lepomis auritus (Redbreast sunfish)
- Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish)
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
- Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie)
Victory Lake (Fall 1989)
Data from Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report). Victory Lake was an impoundment on Big Dry Creek. In 1990, it drained into a sinkhole (in the foreground of this photograph). Only a small pond remains in the upper quarter of the basin.
Rollins Road Pond
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
Data from Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report). This is a small stagnant pond near the end of the paved portion of Rollins Road. It is in the Big Dry Creek Drainage.
Gunby Creek
- Semotilus atromaculatus (Creek Chub)
Data from Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report). Gunby Creek is a tributary of Big Dry Creek. It crosses Lavender Mountain Road just above Victory Lake.
Old Mill Pond and Stream
- Semotilus atromaculatus (Creek Chub)
- Rhinichthyes atratulus (Blacknose Dace)
- Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish)
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
Data from Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report) and personal observation. The Old Mill Pond and Stream is located on the Mountain Campus; this stream is a tributary of Big Dry Creek.
Possum Trot Road Pond
- Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish)
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Lepomis microlophus (Redear Sunfish)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
Redear Sunfish
Data from John Graham. This is a small farm pond just west of the Possum Trot School, on Possum Trot Road. It is in the Big Dry Creek Drainage.
Normandy Pond
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Lepomis auritus (Redbreast Sunfish)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
Data from Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report). Normandy Pond is on a tributary of Gunby Creek, which flows into Big Dry Creek.
Swan Lake System
- Ameiurus natalis (Yellow Bullhead)
- Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish)
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Lepomis microlophus (Redear Sunfish)
- Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
Swan Lake
Mirror Pond
Data from Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report) and personal observation. Swan Lake and Mirror Pond are on the Mountain Campus; they are tributaries of Big Dry Creek.
Army Course Stream
- Semotilus atromaculatus (Creek Chub)
- Rhinichthyes atratulus (Blacknose Dace)
- Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish)
Data from Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report). Army Course Creek rises just east of the Mountain Campus and flows into Big Dry Creek below Victory Lake.
Lavender Creek
- Campostomus anomalum (Central Stoneroller)
- Rhinichthyes atratulus (Blacknose Dace)
- Notropis chrosomus (Rainbow Shiner)
- Semotilus atromaculatus (Creek Chub)
- Hypentelium etowanum (Alabama Hogsucker)
- Moxostoma erythrurum (Golden Redhorse)
- Cottus carolinae (Banded Sculpin)
- Lepomis auritus (Redbreast Sunfish)
- Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish)
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Lepomis megalotis (Longear Sunfish)
- Lepomis miniatus (Redspotted Sunfish)
- Micropterus coosae ((Redeye Bass)
- Etheostoma coosae (Coosa Darter)
- Percina nigrofasciata (Blackbanded Darter)
Data from Mettee et al. (1996). Lavender Creek is a tributary of Armuchee Creek, in Little Texas Valley, which is on the north side of Lavender Mountain.
Beech Creek
- Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish)
- Lepomis auritus (Redbreast Sunfish)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
Data from Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report). Beech Creek drains Berry Reservoir. Sampling stations were below Berry Reservoir, near the Possum Trot School. Beech Creek is a tributary of the Coosa River.
Berry Reservoir
- Lepomis gulosus (Warmouth)
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Lepomis microlophus (Redear Sunfish)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
- Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie)
Data is from collections by Don Dennerline (Game and Fish Division, Department of Natural Resources) and Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report). Berry Reservoir is nestled in a gap between the two main peaks of Lavender Mountain, at an elevation of 885 feet. It is in the Beech Creek Drainage.
Berry Reservoir (early April 2004)
Beaver Pond on Snow Loop
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish)
Data from Pattillo and Davin (unpublished report). This beaver pond is on a tributary of Beech Creek.
References
Mettee, Maurice F., Patrick E. O’Neil, and J. Malcolm Pierson. 1996. Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin. Oxmoor House, Birmingham, Alabama.
Pattillo, Jason and William T. Davin. 1996. An ichthyofauna survey of Berry College. Unpublished Report.