Maryland Completes Cypress Branch Dam Removal

The project restores over 35 miles of habitat for migratory fish species in the Cypress Branch State Park.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Environmental

Maryland Completes Cypress Branch Dam Removal

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Should government agencies prioritize removing abandoned dams to restore natural fish habitats?

In April 2025, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources finished removing the Cypress Branch Dam in Millington. This restoration effort successfully reopened more than 35 miles of river habitat for migratory fish.

Why it matters

The dam, built around 1900, had long blocked species like hickory shad and herring from reaching critical spawning grounds. Removing the structure allows these migratory populations to access upstream areas that were previously inaccessible.

Crews demolished the concrete spillway and relocated earthen materials to restore natural flow, exceeding the initial project goal of 18 miles. The Chesapeake Bay Program previously reached its milestone of opening 1,000 stream miles by 2016.

The players

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

This state agency manages the restoration of natural resources and public lands throughout Maryland.

Chesapeake Bay Program

This regional partnership leads efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed and its tributaries.

The details

Workers stabilized the banks by installing root wad structures after straightening the canal. The project area, which is part of Cypress Branch State Park, is now scheduled for monitoring to track the potential return of alewife and blueback herring.

The dam was originally constructed around 1900.
The state of Maryland acquired the mill pond property in 1994.
Preparatory soil testing for the removal project began in 2019.
The removal of the dam was finalized in April 2025.

The Big Picture

This restoration follows the pattern set by the Chesapeake Bay Program stream restoration targets to improve ecological connectivity. It shifts the regional trajectory by exceeding early reconnection estimates and bolstering habitat health in the watershed.

Residents and visitors to Cypress Branch State Park can expect to see a healthier river ecosystem as migratory fish populations return to these waters. The success of this removal may inform how state agencies prioritize future infrastructure projects to support regional fish stocks.

The takeaway

Restoring natural river flow is a proven method for rebounding fish populations that rely on long-distance migration. Land management agencies continue to prioritize these removals to meet long-term ecological goals within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.