The Ballard Locks will close Wednesday and Thursday mornings this week while Navy Divers prepare the salmon exclusion structure for winter operations. Both locks will be closed from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday Oct. 2, and only the large lock will be closed from 8 to 11:30 on Thursday Oct. 3.
Divers from Naval Base Kitsap closed 10, 10-foot-by-6-foot doors in June to keep salmon from entering the locks’ saltwater intake return in June, and they’ll be reopening the doors this week for normal winter operations. The divers will also be working to prepare the structure for a later de-watering in November.
Boaters can call the lockmaster on duty at 206-783-7000 to verify the locks are open following the scheduled closure.