North Alabama’s rare spring pygmy sunfish is now the $6 million fish.

The Center for Biological Diversity and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA announced Thursday a settlement to a months-long dispute that will preserve the habitat for the tiny, 1-inch fish that has been classified as “threatened” by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

That settlement includes an investment of $6 million to protect the sunfish home in the Beaverdam Spring and Creek complex in Limestone County near the site of the giant automotive plant under construction in west Huntsville.

The Center for Biological Diversity and, later, environmental watchdog Tennessee Riverkeeper had threatened to file a lawsuit against Mazda Toyota as well as the city of Huntsville because the organization said plant construction threatened the sunfish, which is known to exist in only two places – both in north Alabama.

The dispute even led to a brief stoppage in site prep work for the Mazda Toyota plant last summer.

“We’re happy Toyota and Mazda have committed to doing the right thing for this pretty little sunfish and the unique spring where it survives,” said Elise Bennett, a staff attorney at the CBD. “With this agreement, the sunfish has more than a fighting chance to make it.”

According to the CBD announcement, the agreement commits Mazda Toyota to place $4 million in a restricted endowment fund that will provide permanent funding for future conservation projects to benefit the spring pygmy sunfish, including habitat restoration, captive propagation, genetic studies and reintroduction efforts.

And in addition to the endowment, $2 million will be dedicated to immediate habitat restoration and monitoring in the Beaverdam Spring and Creek watershed, including a project to restore the connection between Moss Spring and the other spring heads in the Beaverdam Spring and Creek Complex.

Altogether, at least 1,100 acres of the creek complex will be protected.

“Environmental sustainability and the conservation of natural habitat is a global priority for both Mazda and Toyota,” Mark Brazeal, VP of Administration for Mazda Toyota said in a statement.“We are pleased that this effort to protect the sunfish and its habitat further demonstrates our commitment to protecting biodiversity, particularly regarding threatened and endangered species. We will continue to work with the Conservation Groups, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and environmental experts to develop our plant site sustainably.”

The city of Huntsville released a statement applauding the settlement.

“Huntsville is pleased to see partner participation in addition to the City’s long-term efforts with U.S. Fish & Wildlife (USFWS) to preserve the habitat of the Spring Pygmy Sunfish," the statement said. "Huntsville has remained steadfast in its long-term efforts in monitoring, protecting and sustaining this area of habitat near the megasite property with USFWS and adjacent property owners. We believe that with a focus on preservation of a habitat area, the Spring Pygmy Sunfish will continue thrive and increase in population such that new habitat areas can be established similar to the recently announced Blackwell Swamp population located within the National Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. With this collaborative effort by multiple organizations, the future for the Spring Pygmy Sunfish will be stable and possibly no longer be threatened. Thanks to partners at Mazda and Toyota, there will be dedicated funding to continue this effort to ensure this pristine environment may exist for generations to come.”

Mazda Toyota broke ground on its $1.6 billion plant in November. Production is expected by early 2021.

Updated today, Dec. 20, 2018, at 3:03 p.m. with statement from city of Huntsville.