Fish Passage Workgroup

Meetings

About

Many aquatic species move through waterways to find spawning grounds, colonize new habitat or seek refuge from stressors. But the introduction of dams, roads and other barriers limits these species' ability to migrate through rivers and streams. The Fish Passage Workgroup is dedicated to the restoration of creek, stream and river habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and coordinates the removal of barriers and the tracking of progress toward the Fish Passage Outcome. 

Prioritizing Barrier Removal

Many factors must be considered when preparing to remove a barrier to fish passage. While completely removing all dams from the Chesapeake Bay watershed would dismiss the benefits these dams provide—such as flood control, irrigation and hydroelectric power—many dams have become obsolete and no longer serve their original purpose. Therefore, it is necessary to prioritize barrier removals where there will be the greatest ecologic and human benefit, as well as the where removals are most cost-feasible. Since 2013, the Fish Passage Workgroup has prioritized barrier removals using the Chesapeake Fish Passage Prioritization Tool. To learn more, refer to the documentation prepared by the Nature Conservancy.

Projects