The Ballard Locks fish ladder has been renovated with better interpretive displays and visitor experience.
The Corps Foundation—a national nonprofit that supports U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed lakes and waterway sites—has co-led the efforts with local nonprofit Discover Your Northwest to renovate the fish ladder viewing area, with several updates throughout the past few years.
Between 2019 and 2021, the nonprofits raised $1.2 million toward the project, with another $200,000 raised between 2022 and 2024.
Over the years, the Army Corps used the funds to renovate the HVAC system, sound system, and video collections. They also updated the indoor seating area and included a clear panel for ADA-friendly viewing.
The new interpretive display wall project includes better lighting and acoustics, better use of wall space, more seating in front nof the viewing window, large screen video displays with salmon educational content, and dedicated Park Ranger speaking posts.
The next phase of the project will be adding a cultural component that recognizes local Tribal Nations, whose traditional fishing grounds are on either sides of the Locks. It will also honor the collaboration with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe, who contribute to managing salmon migration at the Locks.
Photos: Nicole Celestine, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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