By Ellie Mason, Habitat Restoration Project Manager
A major milestone in Cherryfield!
This week, the Narraguagus River was reconnected through the new nature-like fishway, and the temporary bypass channel was officially decommissioned!
After months of the river being routed around the project site during construction, it was incredibly rewarding to watch water begin flowing through the new low-flow step pool channel for the first time. As the bypass channel was decommissioned, project staff and Maine Department of Marine Resources staff were on hand to safely relocate several sunfish and eels upriver. Sargent has also made rapid progress filling in the former bypass channel and removing the remaining rock cofferdam material. Residents may notice some muddy or turbid water downstream as this work wraps up, which is expected to settle over the coming days.
With the river flowing through the new fishway, work is now shifting to the park and public spaces. Over the next several weeks, crews will begin clearing new walking paths, installing benches and picnic tables, regrading the road, and preparing other site improvements, with work continuing through the end of November.
After years of planning and months of construction, seeing the Narraguagus flow through its new channel marks an exciting moment for this project and for Cherryfield!
