Both the large and small locks at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in
Ballard will be closed to all marine traffic from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Aug. 17.
The closure will allow dive teams to inspect the salmon exclusion structure
immediately upstream of the locks. The staff will make maximum efforts to
complete the work as soon and as safely as possible.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, which operates the locks,
installed this interim structure to prevent salmon from being trapped in the
saltwater return system. During the 2009 salmon migration, biologists only
found one adult coho salmon in the return system.
The structure prevents salmon access to the locks' salt water return system
and improves the viability of the salmon runs, which use the fish ladder to
return upstream to their spawning grounds. The design allows for the doors
to be manually closed during migration and opened when the salmon are not
migrating
Emergency vessels on an emergency call will have access to the locks during
the closure.
Boaters may call the lockmaster on duty at 206-783-7000 to verify that the
locks are open.
For current information about activities at the locks, visit the Corps of
Engineers Web site at www.nws.usace.army.mil and select "Dams and Locks" then
"Lake Washington Ship Canal" from the left column.
The Chittenden Locks, often referred to as the Ballard or Government Locks,
safely transit about 60,000 vessels each year.
[[In-content Ad]]
