fish ladder

American  

noun

1. a series of ascending pools constructed to enable salmon or other fish to swim upstream around or over a dam.

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fish ladder British  

noun

1. a row of ascending pools or weirs connected by short falls to allow fish to pass barrages or dams

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Etymology

Origin of fish ladder

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fish ladder

The coho salmon has already conquered the Ballard Locks fish ladder, swum 17 miles through urban Seattle waterways and powered through a tunnel under nine lanes of Interstate 405.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 10, 2024

Often adult Chinook salmon looking to spawn will cycle through the fish ladder multiple times or wait upstream for weeks, losing energy and risking attacks from predators, she said.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 18, 2024

To carry out the repairs, the district received authorization from the fish and wildlife department to temporarily drain part of the reservoir behind the dam and close the fish ladder.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2023

Watch for fall salmon navigating Bridal Veil Falls via the fish ladder.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 3, 2022

A third option is the fish ladder at Bonneville Dam, where lampreys sometimes can be spotted suckered onto the glass, making their way slowly up the fish ladder in spring and summer.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 23, 2022