Southern Company, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and other partners announced $940,000 in grants to restore aquatic habitats and foster growth of freshwater species. The grants will support six projects benefitting at-risk aquatic species within Alabama, Georgia and Florida – where nearly half of the Southern Company system's customers live and play.

The grants will leverage $1.1 million in matching contributions, generating a total conservation impact of more than $2 million. Awarded through the Southeast Aquatics Fund, the grants are a result of a strategic public-private partnership between NFWF, the USDA Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Southern Company.

"It's a privilege to sponsor projects that recover native aquatic species and restore critical watersheds in the Southeast," said Jeff Burleson, Southern Company's environmental and system planning vice president. "Southern Company is committed to supporting initiatives that enrich the communities we serve by protecting our natural resources for current and future generations."