 Habitat has been severely degraded and limited by water pollution from surface coal mining and gas exploration activities; removal of riparian vegetation; stream channelization; increased siltation associated with poor mining, logging, and agricultural practices; and deforestation of watersheds.These activities can permanently alter stream water quality (e.g., elevated conductivity) by contributing sediment, dissolved metals, and other solids to streams supporting populations.These water quality changes can be permanent and render these habitats unsuitable for the darter.