Cherryfield Fish Passage Improvement Project
Project Background
By November 2026, sea-run fish will encounter fewer migration barriers on the Narraguagus River than at any point in the past two centuries. The Downeast Salmon Federation (DSF), in partnership with local, state, and federal collaborators, is preparing to replace the final mainstem barrier, the Cherryfield Ice Dam, with a nature-like fishway, with construction set to begin in July 2026.
Built in 1961 to reduce ice-related flooding in downtown Cherryfield, the dam has long limited fish passage. The new fishway is designed to function like a natural river channel while retaining the existing headpond, maintaining its ice control capacity and recreational value, a priority identified by the Cherryfield select board.
Rendering by Maisie Richards
Restoring access past this final barrier is expected to benefit sea-run fish populations, including endangered Atlantic salmon, American shad, and river herring. These species are essential to the river’s ecological health and hold cultural and economic importance for the region, particularly river herring, which continue to support local commercial harvests.
The project also includes improvements to the adjacent park, with plans for a play area, amphitheater, gazebo, floating dock, and restrooms. These enhancements will expand public access and strengthen the community’s connection to the river.
This effort represents a major milestone in a decades-long process to restore fish passage on the Narraguagus River. It reconnects habitat and community while offering a model for future river restoration projects, with lessons learned helping to inform continued conservation of sea-run fish across the region.
2026 Cherryfield Project Timeline and Community Schedule
- June 2; 5:30p-7:30p – Pre-Construction Community Meeting Cherryfield Academy
- June 1 – December 1 – Project Construction Period: Park and access road closed to the public during construction
- July 15 – October 15 – In Water Demolition and Construction
- June 27Â – Cherryfield Days Community Event
- July 31; 4:00p-6:00p – Community Project Tour*
- August 28; 4:00p-6:00p – Community Project Tour*
- September 25; 4:00p-6:00p –Â Community Project Tour*
*Community Project Tours: Project partners invite the community to visit the site and learn about construction progress and project updates while the park remains temporarily closed during construction. Tour dates may change depending on safety, weather, or construction activity.
Project Contributors
Funding for this project has been provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Restoration Center:
This project is led by the Downeast Salmon Federation in close partnership with the following conservation organizations:
With additional support from:
News and Updates
Overview
Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is this project being funded and who is working on it?
This project is entirely funded by a $9.1 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Restoration Center (NOAA RC), which was awarded to Downeast Salmon Federation (DSF) in September, 2024. The project will take place with no cost to the Town of Cherryfield.
The Town of Cherryfield is working in close collaboration with DSF, in addition to other core partners—Maine Coast Heritage Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and Atlantic Salmon Federation. The project engineer is Inter-Fluve and construction work is being done by Sargent Corporation.
What is the anticipated timeline for project completion?
The demolition of the dam and construction of the nature-like fishway will be completed by October 15, 2026. Cable Pool Park is expected to reopen to visitors in December 2026, afterpark improvements are completed in late fall 2026. Revegetation will be completed by June, 2027.
How will the new fishway maintain ice control?
The dam and ice piers controlled ice flooding by encouraging the formation of ice in a sheet in the pond above the dam. This prevented large ice floes from traveling downstream where they could threaten downtown Cherryfield with flooding.. To maintain this ice control function, the pond above the dam will remain at the same level it was pre-construction. The nature-like fishway will gain the same amount of elevation as the dam, but over a longer distance and with a more gradual slope. Sheet pile and large boulders designed to withstand pressure from ice buildup installed at the upstream end of the nature-like fishway will stabilize the structure.
Will the water level of the impoundment behind the dam go back up after construction is completed?
Yes, after construction is completed in October, the water level of the impoundment will be returned to a similar level as pre-construction. This will be done to ensure that the nature-like fishway maintains the same flood control ability as the dam. A small amount of natural fluctuation in water levels is expected with events such as heavy rainfall or drought.
What will the park look like after construction?
Several amenities will be added to Cable Pool Park, including a floating dock, a natural play area, picnic areas, an outdoor amphitheater, and a restroom. Native plants will be used to revegetate the areas of the park that were cleared for construction and footpaths will be created down to and alongside the riverbank. Interpretive signage about the ecology and history of the site will be added to several locations throughout the park. Cherryfield residents were involved in providing ideas and feedback on the designs of the park.
Who will maintain the site after construction is complete?
Cable Pool Park and the new fishway is owned by the Town of Cherryfield. It is expected that the fishway will require little to no maintenance. Project partners are working towards establishing a fund to help the town pay for continued upkeep of the park amenities.
Why was this project needed, wasn’t the dam doing its job?Â
The dam, built over 60 years ago, was beginning to deteriorate and was in need of repairs that would have been a financial burden to the Town of Cherryfield. Further, the timbers used to build the dam had been treated with creosote, a hazardous material that was leaching into the river. At the request of the town, the Army Corps of Engineers conducted a study on possible solutions to the issue. At the end of the study, the Corps recommended replacing the dam with a nature-like fishway. The nature-like fishway will meet the town’s needs for continued ice control, provide more natural fish passage, and be built at no cost to the town.
How will the alewife harvest be impacted by the new fishway?Â
The alewife harvest will continue, but will likely be moved to the western side of the river where the primary channel of the fishway will be located. It is anticipated that the new fishway may help bolster alewife populations, supporting the harvest into the future. The alewife harvesters have been great allies of this project and were involved with early discussions about the designs of the nature-like fishway and park.
Project Glossary and Key Definitions
Abutment – The tall, timber and crib structures on either side of the dam.
Bypass channel – A channel dug to re-route the river to flow around the site throughout construction.
Cofferdam – A temporary dam constructed to control water flow around the work site.
Dam spillway – The wall of the dam over which the river flowed.
Embankment – The earthen structures built into the riverside leading up to each abutment.
Ice piers – Structures built in the impoundment above the dam that aid in the control of ice.
Pile – A long, thin column of steel or wood that is driven into the ground to create structural support.
Pile driving – Process of using a heavy-duty hammer to force a pile into the ground without previous excavation work.
Sheet pile – Interlocking sheets that are driven into the ground and used to create structures such as cofferdams.
