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A newly established fish passage goal for the Chesapeake Bay watershed favors dam removals. Earlier this year, the Chesapeake Executive Council established a new fish passage goal that called for opening 1,000 miles of river to migratory fish. Unlike earlier goals, though, it said programs should favor dam removals as opposed to structural fish passages, where practical. The Bay region leads the nation in dam removals, according to figures compiled by American Rivers. Of 56 dams in 11 states that were scheduled to be removed this year, 29 were in the Bay states. Pennsylvania led the way with 26 (not all are in the Bay watershed), while Maryland had two and Virginia one. NOAA has become increasingly active in supporting dam removals because they block historic spawning grounds for migratory fish, and it is expected that role may grow. This summer, NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher announced its Open Rivers Initiative designed to help communities remove derelict dams and other stream barriers. See the grants section below for more information on the Open Rivers Initiative. http://www.bayjournal.com/newsite/article.cfm?article=2652 F. X. Browne, Inc. has extensive experience in stream restoration design, including dam removals. Please contact us at info@fxbrowne.com for more information.
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