WABI-TV5 • October 27, 2026
Crews removed the Cherryfield Ice Dam this summer, allowing Atlantic salmon to swim farther upstream. The Downeast Salmon Federation (DSF) partnered with the town, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on the project. One of the key goals of the improvement project is to increase fish passage. Years ago, hundreds of fish passed through the river. In recent years, that number has dropped significantly. Ellie Mason, habitat restoration project manager for the Downeast Salmon Federation, said the dam was known to block fish.