The fish ladder viewing area is closed today for repairs.
In an announcement on social media, representatives from the Ballard Locks say that crews will be working on repairing part of the concrete in the fish ladder viewing area, which has been leaking water onto the floor.
The fish ladder is one of the most popular features at the Ballard Locks, allowing visitors to watch salmon migrate between Puget Sound and Lake Washington while bypassing the locks. The viewing windows provide a close-up look at fish as they move upstream to their spawning grounds.
They say the grounds, including the Locks and the botanical garden, will remain open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
The closure comes as salmon migration season begins to pick up. The Locks recently reported the first adult sockeye salmon of the year passing through the ladder, with larger numbers of sockeye, Chinook, coho, and other species typically making their way through the system over the summer months.
Visitors who want to track the migration can also follow the daily salmon counts published by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The online dashboard reports the number of sockeye, Chinook, and coho salmon counted at the Ballard Locks as they return to Lake Washington, with counts updated throughout the migration season. The data offers a way to monitor the run’s progress and see when larger numbers of fish begin moving through the ladder.
The fish ladder viewing area is expected to reopen by 7 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17.
The Corps Foundation made upgrades to the fish ladder viewing area in 2024, when they added new interpretive displays, more seating, better lighting, and a speaking post for park rangers.
Photos: Hiram M. Chittenden Locks