Northwest Arkansas is a center of extraordinary biodiversity and is also one of the most rapidly urbanizing areas in the United States. Two of the most imperiled fish species in the region, the Arkansas Darter (Etheostoma cragini) and a currently undescribed narrow-range endemic species similar to the Least Darter (Etheostoma sp. cf microperca) are found only at a handful of groundwater-fed sites in this landscape, where they are under constant threat from rapid urban development. Partnerships between several state agencies and others enabled acquisition and protection of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission's (ANHC's) Healing Springs Natural Area (HSNA), established in 2020. In addition to containing the most robust populations and best remaining habitats for both of these rare fish species, HSNA is home to several other species of concern, including other rare and endemic fishes, crayfishes, and plants. The Natural Area sits within the karst recharge of a population of federally threatened Ozark Cavefish (Troglichthys rosae) and includes a rare fen habitat. Additionally, the site is being restored by Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) to a oak savanna and woodland, a habitat type mostly lost in the region. While many of ANHC's 77 Natural Areas protect imperiled fish and other aquatic species of concern, the story of HSNA is somewhat unique. It is perhaps the only acquisition specifically driven by the presence of populations of rare fish species, which are often difficult to protect at this scale, but it also serves as a stream mitigation site for ArDOT construction projects. The creation of HSNA is the result of years of tireless efforts by many dedicated individuals. But while HSNA now provides protection for this unique aquatic community, many threats still remain. It is crucial not only that further steps are taken to ensure protection of this site, but that other such sites in the region are conserved if this natural community and the remarkable species that are part of it are to persist.