In 1987, the first Chesapeake Bay Agreement was signed by states within the watershed, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia. This landmark agreement included commitments by each state, “to provide for fish passage at dams, and remove stream blockages wherever necessary to restore passage for migratory fish.” Since that time, Maryland has partnered with numerous federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit groups, businesses, landowners, and concerned citizens to re-open over 400 miles of stream in Maryland. As a collective group, the Bay States have exceeded a 10-year goal to reopen over 1,357 miles of stream by 2003. By the end of 2004, the States had reopened over 1,570 miles of stream and are now working on completing a new 10-year goal, which calls for 100 fish passage and dam removal projects to be completed and 1,000 miles of tributary habitat re-opened to migratory and resident fish. For details on the goal, click here (pdf format).

  For further information contact Jim Thompson, Jim is the lead fisheries biologist for DNR's Fish Passage Program and he can be contacted through customer service email.