Ballard Locks fish ladder and urban salmon viewing

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks include a fish ladder that provides a route for anadromous fish to move between saltwater and freshwater. The ladder and adjacent viewing areas are a well-documented urban site for observing migrating salmon during seasonal runs, with counts and monitoring conducted by agencies and volunteers. The fish ladder was incorporated into the Locks’ design because the canal and locks changed historic migration pathways.