Fish Passage Workgroup
The Fish Passage Workgroup is committed to restoring creek, stream and river habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by re-establishing historical fish migration routes, with the goal of opening an additional 150 miles for fish passage every two years.
Meetings
Fish Passage Workgroup Meeting - October 2026
Fish Passage Workgroup Meeting - March 2026
CANCELED - Fish Passage Workgroup Fall 2025 Meeting
CANCELED: Habitat GIT Fall 2025 Meeting: Day 2 of 2
About
The members of the Fish Passage Workgroup are dedicated to the restoration of creek, stream and river habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Dams and other obstructions block the natural migration of fish to their historic spawning habitats. By removing physical obstacles, key species like American shad and herring are able to return to their spawning grounds, as well as increasing available habitat for resident fish. The workgroup promotes projects involving the removal of dams or the creation of fishways when dam removal is not feasible. Whenever possible, projects are integrated with local watershed management or restoration plans.
Jurisdictional Coordinators
- Delaware: Edna Stetzar (Edna.Stetzar@delaware.gov), DE Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
- District of Columbia: Rese Cloyd (rese.cloyd@dc.gov), DC Department of Energy and Environment
- Maryland: Jim Thompson (jim.thompson@maryland.gov), MD Department of Natural Resources
- New York: Ian Blackburn (ian.blackburn@dec.ny.gov), NY State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Pennsylvania: Dave Dippold (ddippold@pa.gov), PA Fish and Boat Commission
- Virginia: Alan Weaver (alan.weaver@dwr.virginia.gov), VA Department of Wildlife Resources
- West Virginia: Rachel Harrison (rachel.m.harrison@wv.gov), WV Division of Natural Resources
Projects
Recommendations for Aquatic Organism Passage at Maryland Road-Stream Crossings
CompleteInformed by discussions, stakeholder meetings and multiple rounds of revisions by state, federal and non-governmental partners, this document presents recommendations to promote stream continuity, aquatic organism passage and in some cases, terrestrial wildlife passage at new and replacement road-stream crossings in Maryland.
Our Watershed Agreement Goals & Outcomes
Thriving Habitat, Fisheries & Wildlife Goal
Our Members
- Ray Li (Chair)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) ray_li@fws.gov - Shannon Boyle (Chair)
McMillen boyle@mcmillen.com - Nick Staten (Staffer)
Chesapeake Research Consortium staten.nick@epa.gov - Ben Bradley
Virginia Tech benbradley@vt.edu - Rese Cloyd
District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment rese.cloyd@dc.gov - Sandra Davis
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) sandra_davis@fws.gov - Julie Devers
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) julie_devers@fws.gov - Dave Dippold
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission ddippold@pa.gov - Gian Dodici
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) gian_dodici@fws.gov - Sheila Eyler
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sheila_Eyler@fws.gov - Ben Hutzell
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) ben_hutzell@fws.gov - Thomas Kehler
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Thomas_Kehler@fws.gov - Serena McClain
American Rivers smmclain@americanrivers.org - Callie McMunigal
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) callie_mcmunigal@fws.gov - Abigail McQueen
Trout Unlimited Abigail.McQueen@tu.org - Clint Morgeson
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources clinton.morgeson@dwr.virginia.gov - Lisa Moss
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Lisa_Moss@fws.gov - Kevin Mulligan
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) kmulligan@usgs.gov - David O'Brien
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) David.L.O'Brien@noaa.gov - Tammy O'Connell
Maryland Department of Natural Resources tamaral.oconnell@maryland.gov - Matthew Ogburn
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center ogburnm@si.edu - Matt Robinson
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) robinson.matthew@epa.gov - Angie Sowers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) angela.sowers@usace.army.mil - Jessie Thomas-Blate
American Rivers jthomas@americanrivers.org - David Thorne
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources david.w.thorne@wv.gov - Mike Trumbauer
Biohabitats mtrumbauer@biohabitats.com - Alex Vidal
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) alexander_vidal@fws.gov - Alan Weaver
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources alan.weaver@dgif.virginia.gov - Rachel Harrison
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources rachel.m.harrison@wv.gov - Ian Blackburn
NYSDEC-Division of Water, Bureau of Water Permits ian.blackburn@dec.ny.gov