By Ellie Mason, Habitat Restoration Project Manager
Cherryfield Fish Passage Improvement Project Update – October 1, 2026
Sargent Construction has been moving quickly to remove the temporary rock barrier that kept water out of the construction area and to fill in the temporary bypass channel that carried the Narraguagus River around the work site this summer. Excavated material that had been stored nearby has also been returned to Cable Pool Park.
Work is now shifting toward improvements at the park, which will continue through the end of November. This includes creating new walking paths and a river overlook, installing benches and picnic tables, bringing electricity into the park, and restoring vegetation in areas impacted by construction. Additional planting will take place next spring when conditions are better suited for certain species.
Over the next couple of weeks, crews will also make a few final adjustments to the new step pool channel—the series of gradual pools that now carries the river through the project area and provides a more natural passage for fish and other aquatic species. This work will be completed before the end of the in-water construction period on October 15.
As these final adjustments are made and more water moves through the new channel, you may notice brief periods of muddy or cloudy water downstream. This is expected to subside quickly and become less frequent as the work wraps up.
And a big thank you to everyone who joined us for last Friday’s public tour! With daylight hours getting shorter, we’re looking at a new date and time for one final tour before the site reopens to the public.
Stay tuned for details!