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 132 miles for fish passage every two years.
Meetings
Fish Passage Workgroup Fall 2025 Meeting
Habitat GIT Virtual Spring 2025 Meeting
Stream Health, Fish Passage, Brook Trout, and Proposed Non-tidal Fish Habitat Outcome Discussion
Fish Passage Workgroup Meeting - Spring 2025
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. To date, the Fish Passage Workgroup has worked to open over 2,000 miles of streams and rivers for the passage of fish in the Bay watershed.
Projects
Recommendations for Aquatic Organism Passage at Maryland Road-Stream Crossings
This document is the result of discussions, stakeholder meetings, and multiple rounds of revisions by state, federal, and non-governmental partners to create a set of recommendations for fish and aquatic organism passage at new and replacement road-stream crossings in Maryland.
Publications
2015-2025 Fish Passage Outcome Management Strategy
Publication date: Not listedThis management strategy outlines methods for achieving the Fish Passage Outcome.
View document [PDF, 561.2 KB] 2015-2025 Fish Passage Outcome Management Strategy
2024-2025 Fish Passage Outcome Workplan
Publication date: Not listedThis two-year work plan outlines the steps the workgroup will implement to help achieve the Fish Passage Outcome.
View document [PDF, 590.5 KB] 2024-2025 Fish Passage Outcome Workplan
2022-2023 Fish Passage Outcome Workplan
Publication date: Not listedIn this two-year work plan, the workgroup specifies actions to drive progress toward the Fish Passage Outcome.
View document [PDF, 348.5 KB] 2022-2023 Fish Passage Outcome Workplan
2020-2021 Fish Passage Outcome Workplan
Publication date: Not listed2020-2021 Fish Passage Logic & Action Plan
View document [PDF, 178.0 KB] 2020-2021 Fish Passage Outcome Workplan
2021 Fish Passage Presentation
Publication date: Not listed2021 Fish Passage Presentation
View document [PDF, 737.5 KB] 2021 Fish Passage Presentation
Our Watershed Agreement Goals & Outcomes
Vital Habitats Goal
Our Members
- Jim Thompson (Chair)
Maryland Department of Natural Resources jim.thompson@maryland.gov - Ray Li (Chair)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) ray_li@fws.gov - Nick Staten (Staffer)
Chesapeake Research Consortium staten.nick@epa.gov - Abigail McQueen
Trout Unlimited Abigail.McQueen@tu.org - Alan Weaver
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources alan.weaver@dgif.virginia.gov - Alex Vidal
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) alexander_vidal@fws.gov - Angie Sowers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Baltimore District angela.sowers@usace.army.mil - Ben Bradley
Virginia Tech benbradley@vt.edu - Ben Hutzell
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) ben_hutzell@fws.gov - Callie McMunigal
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) callie_mcmunigal@fws.gov - Clint Morgeson
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources clinton.morgeson@dgif.virginia.gov - Dave Dippold
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission ddippold@pa.gov - David O'Brien
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) David.L.O'Brien@noaa.gov - David Thorne
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources david.w.thorne@wv.gov - Gian Dodici
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) gian_dodici@fws.gov - Jessie Thomas-Blate
American Rivers jthomas@americanrivers.org - Julie Devers
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) julie_devers@fws.gov - Kevin Mulligan
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) kmulligan@usgs.gov - Lisa Moss
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Lisa_Moss@fws.gov - Mary Andrews
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Mary.Andrews@noaa.gov - Matt Robinson
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency robinson.matthew@epa.gov - Matthew Ogburn
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) ogburnm@si.edu - Mike Trumbauer
Biohabitats mtrumbauer@biohabitats.com - Rese Cloyd
District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) rese.cloyd@dc.gov - Sandra Davis
USFWS Chesapeake Bay Field Office sandra_davis@fws.gov - Serena McClain
American Rivers smmclain@americanrivers.org - Sheila Eyler
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sheila_Eyler@fws.gov - Tammy O'Connell
Maryland Department of Natural Resources tamaral.oconnell@maryland.gov - Thomas Kehler
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Thomas_Kehler@fws.gov