Chesapeake Bay Program partners restored access to 303 stream miles for migratory fish across the watershed during 2022 and 2023, exceeding the biennial target of 132 miles by more than double. The effort, coordinated through the program’s Fish Passage Workgroup, involved removing 13 dams and installing passage structures, advancing the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement’s goal of reconnecting historical migration routes for species including alewife, herring, shad, brook trout and American eel.
The surge in progress stems from collaborative projects among federal, state and nonprofit entities, with data tracked via The Nature Conservancy’s Chesapeake Bay Fish Passage Prioritization Tool. This biennial assessment evaluates barrier removals and monitors target species presence at restoration sites, confirming the reopened miles support spawning access. Since 1989, partners have unlocked 35,258 stream miles overall, with 11,440 miles gained through dam removals and 23,818 miles via other infrastructure like fish ladders and culvert replacements.
Ray Li, fishery biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and chair of the Fish Passage Workgroup, attributed the gains to broad cooperation. “Through the collaborative work of our members and their strong partnerships with government and non-government organizations, we continue to reconnect, and restore stream and river habitat across the watershed,” Li said. He noted secondary benefits, including enhanced wildlife corridors, reduced maintenance for outdated structures and mitigation of flooding risks in streamside communities.
Key achievements included the Oakland Dam removal along the Susquehanna River, which alone restored more than 200 stream miles, the largest single contribution to the period’s total. Additional removals encompassed the Wilson Creek Dam in Virginia, opening 19.3 miles, and the Hollister Dam in Pennsylvania, providing 26.4 miles of passage. These actions prioritize dam elimination over ladders, aligning with updated strategies that favor natural flow restoration for broader aquatic benefits.
In Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources leads local implementation, focusing on anadromous species recovery through barrier assessments and stocking programs. The state has contributed to watershed-wide totals by reopening over 1,300 miles historically for shad and herring, with recent efforts emphasizing all fish species. Southern Maryland communities, along rivers like the Patuxent and Potomac, stand to gain from these initiatives, as improved upstream passage bolsters bay fisheries and water quality.
A standout Maryland project, the Potomac Headwaters Fish Passage Restoration, targets reconnection of 195 stream miles for brook trout, American eel and other natives across the Potomac’s upper reaches in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Led by Trout Unlimited with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service support, it involves removing up to 17 barriers, including dams and undersized culverts, through 2024. The work creates a 150-square-mile habitat patch for resilient brook trout populations, while upgrading infrastructure to cut flood hazards and preserve recreational access in rural areas. Funding draws from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $200 million allocation for national fish passage over five years, described as a pivotal investment for Chesapeake streams.
Further bolstering Southern Maryland’s waterways, the October 2025 Conowingo Dam agreement commits more than $28 million to fish and eel passage enhancements at the Susquehanna’s lower reaches. Negotiated by Governor Wes Moore with Constellation Energy, the $340 million pact includes hatchery operations for freshwater mussels to filter pollutants, aiding shad and herring rebound. These upgrades, part of enforceable water quality standards, extend benefits downstream to the Chesapeake Bay, where Southern Maryland’s tidal segments support a $3.2 billion regional economy tied to seafood, tourism and recreation. Local anglers and watermen in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties could see increased runs of migratory species, enhancing harvest opportunities under Maryland’s creel limits, such as five fish daily for certain Potomac bass.
On the Patuxent River, Maryland DNR stocked more than 3 million American shad larvae and 21.8 million hickory shad larvae in recent years, complementing passage work to repopulate tributaries. These efforts address historical blockages that fragmented habitats, with federal grants like the EPA’s $100,000 contributions supporting water quality gains alongside fish access. In Southern Maryland, where rivers blend agricultural and naval influences, such restorations stabilize banks, curb erosion and foster native plantings, as seen in related Virginia mussel plantings of 600 individuals.
Ian R. Blackburn, aquatic biologist with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, highlighted interstate ties. “As our agency’s representative on the Chesapeake Bay Program Fish Passage Workgroup, I am excited to see the progress being made on the fish passage front in the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” Blackburn said. He emphasized New York’s upper Susquehanna contributions, like culvert replacements and dam modifications, fostering eventual full connectivity for shad and eels.
The original 1,000-mile target by 2025 concluded early in 2016, prompting a 2020 revision to sustain 132 miles biennially. With 2024-2025 data due in 2027, partners anticipate full compliance, supported by projects in design and construction phases. A proposed updated outcome awaits review in the draft revised Watershed Agreement.
Abby McQueen, stream restoration specialist with Trout Unlimited, underscored sustained involvement. “Trout Unlimited is proud to be part of the efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to remove fish passage barriers and create unimpeded stream networks that allow native and wild brook trout to thrive,” McQueen said. “The progress the partnership has made is impressive and we look forward to continuing to work together to open even more stream miles and improve even more infrastructure for future generations.”
These advancements reflect decades of prioritization, with tools like the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative assessing nearly 4,000 barriers using 40 metrics. In Southern Maryland, where private land ownership poses challenges, community partnerships drive assessments of 3,000 local stream crossings, paving the way for targeted removals that balance ecology and infrastructure needs.
