Shapiro Administration celebrates new fish passage at Shikellamy State Park

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has marked the completion of a new naturalistic fish passage at Shikellamy State Park in Northumberland County. This development, part of Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week, aims to aid native species such as American shad and eels upstream while benefiting the Chesapeake Bay downstream.

Governor Josh Shapiro previously noted in 2024 that Pennsylvania's section of the watershed is showing significant improvement due to collaborative efforts and investments in Chesapeake Bay restoration.

"Stewardship and conservation of our environment is the core of what DCNR does every day. You can see the results of our efforts in this fish passage, which is designed to function and look natural and help many kinds of life thrive in the river," stated DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. She emphasized that "the result of many partnerships at the state, regional, and federal level, this project is good for Pennsylvania, and it helps Pennsylvania be a good neighbor."

Speakers at the event included Ben Bender, Manager of Shikellamy State Park; Sid Jamieson from the indigenous Cayuga Nation Iroquois; Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn; Tim Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; Mike Slattery from the US Fish and Wildlife Service; and author & journalist Tom Horton.