In 2008, a population of trispot darter was found in the Coosa River watershed before it was thought to be entirely lost from Alabama's waterways for over 50 years. Now, the colorful freshwater fish might winnow its way onto the Endangered Species List.

Under a settlement agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit group that advocates for species, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has agreed to take a decision by 2017 regarding whether the trispot darter needs protection under the Endangered Species Act or not.

The Center decided to file a lawsuit following lengthy delays in seeking protections for seven species of freshwater fish or mussels found in the Southeast. The settlement contains a schedule of deadlines for a decision on every species.

Tierra Curry, a senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity, said, "We petitioned for protection for these fish five years ago, and FWS hadn't issued a decision yet. We filed lawsuit and settled with FWS to get dates for them to decide whether or not to protect them".

The wildlife service is going to take a decision on whether the questioned species should be placed on the endangered species list as threatened or endangered, or on a waiting list, or that no action is in need.

In the agreement, frecklebelly madtom, a small catfish found in the Alabama, Cahaba and Tombigbee Rivers in Alabama is also included. The wildlife service has decided to take a decision on the frecklebelly madtom by September 2020.