Fish Ladder Reopens and the Sockeye are here!

After a thorough annual spring cleaning, the fish ladder at the Ballard Locks reopens tonight, just in time for the arrival of the sockeye salmon and Memorial Day weekend.  The sockeye are on their way.  Our insiders tell us that four sockeye were recently spotted in the area.

Of the 3 Pacific salmon species that use the fish ladder, the sockeye are the first to return each year, coming back from the Gulf of Alaska where they have been feeding for the last two to three years. The majority of the sockeye that pass through the Ballard Locks were hatched on the Cedar River and are returning there to spawn.

When we see the sockeye at the Locks they are silver in color.  It’s called the “ocean phase.”  The sockeye in this phase are easily identified from other salmon species by the lack of spots on their backs.  Adult sockeye will average from 24 to 30 inches in length.  They weigh from six to eight pounds.  As they journey through fresh water to the spawning beds their bodies will take on the distinctive red color called the “freshwater phase.”

After moving through the Ship Canal and lakes Union and Washington, the sockeye salmon will reach their spawning beds in late September or early October.  Each female will lay several thousand eggs in the gravel of the riverbed.  Salmon die after spawning, becoming an important part of the ecosystem as their decaying bodies return essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil.

The fish ladder viewing gallery is open daily from 7 a.m.-8:45 p.m., there are displays there and in the Visitor Center (10 - 6:00 daily) with additional information on the salmon life cycle.

The White Sands passes through the Locks, October 4, 1975

Researched and Written by Tom O'Grady

The dry dock White Sands entering the lock Oct. 4, 1975

On October 4, 1975 this would be what you would see if you were down at  the Ballard Locks between 1:00 and 5:00 pm. The full story behind this photo has not been told and is only known by a few but we are attempting to gather the complete details concerning this day at the Ballard  Locks.


What you are seeing in this photo is the dry dock  "White Sands"  being towed stern first into the large lock by the Josie Foss, captained by Bob Hayden and  the Dorothy Foss, captained by Lee Crider (just behind the dry dock).   This was the second attempt to bring the dry dock into Lake Union. The  first attempt on Sept. 9th failed when one of the barges attached to  the hull broke loose. The barges were used as part of the plan to angle the dry dock sufficiently so as to clear the walls of the lock. We are still looking for others with information concerning the failed first attempt. Any tug operators,  pilots, crew or witnesses to the event are invited to contact us with  your memories of the day. It is worth noting that this was just the latest in unique events involving the dry dock, and some of that history we can tell here.

Small Lock Pumpout Completed

It is time for the annual inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of the small lock!

On March 13, the water remaining in the chamber was pumped out so the lower walls and floor are accessible.

The pumps for this operation are located underneath the Administration Building. If you peek in the basement windows, you may be able to see some of the plumbing for the pumps.

It takes about 4 hours to drain the small lock whereas the large lock (pictured left) requires about 10 hours to pump dry. See previous entries on the Large Lock Pump Out and More Pump Out Pictures.

Without unforeseen findings, the small lock re-opened to boat traffic by March 23.

See the Official Hiram M. Chittenden Locks page for the most current updates and information about the locks and the ship canal.

Next on the "to-do" list usually is installation of the smolt flumes on the spillway dam around April 16th and fish ladder cleaning in June.

Christmas Ships Annual Visit at the Locks

Head down to the Locks on Wednesday December 7th around 8 p.m. to see the annual parade of Christmas ships. The Dickens Carolers will be the featured musical group on the lead ship.

The parade is scheduled to leave Shilshole Marina at 7 p.m., be at the Locks from 8:10-8:30, stop at Golden Gardens Park from 9:05-9:25, and return to Shilshole at 9:45.

The gates at the Locks will remain open as usual until 9:00 p.m.

Ballard Locks Closed Tuesday August 23, 2011

Both locks will be closed to boat traffic August 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for regular inspection of the salmon exclusion structure.

Also posted by @ChittendenLocks and MyBallard.

100 Years Ago This Month: Major Cavanaugh Begins Work in Seattle

August 1, 1911 – Major James Bates Cavanaugh is assigned to the Corps of Engineers Seattle District to oversee the construction of the locks and the Lake Washington Ship Canal.

It was Maj. Hiram M. Chittenden whose vision and political skills resulted in the placement of the locks at Salmon Bay, however he had to take early medical retirement in 1909. Major C.W. Kutz served as head of the Seattle District until Cavanaugh was appointed in 1911.



James Bates Cavanaugh's West Point Graduation photo, Class of 1892.

Major Cavanaugh was then working in Washington D.C. as Assistant to the Chief of Engineers. He had graduated first in his class from West Point Military Academy (1892) and was an extremely capable and well-respected officer. He had worked on many river and harbor projects around the country, as well as teaching Field Engineering at the Post School for Officers. He was selected for the Seattle assignment, not only for his technical experience, but his proven diplomatic skills that were needed to complete this enormous engineering project.

In March 1915 he was promoted to Lt. Colonel; then in April 1917, with the United States now involved in World War I, he was assigned to command the 18th Engineers at American Lake, WA (now Joint Base Lewis/McChord) and promoted to Colonel prior to sailing for France in July 1917. Cavanaugh House is named in his honor.


Information for this article was gathered from the U.S.Military Academy/West Point and the Seattle District Army Corps of Engineers.

Audio Tour of the Locks

The US Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District enters the podcasting world with this audio tour of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Look for more audio tours from the district in the future.

US Army Corps of Engineers Audio Tour of the Locks

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages and operates 192 navigational lock sites home to 237 lock chambers across the nation. The Northwestern Division has 10 of those lock chambers. Each year more than 40,000 vessels pass through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in the Seattle District. Come and experience a tour with our audio podcast. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Salmon Season!

Head on over to the Chittenden Locks to see the sockeye salmon (link to our past article) moving through the fish ladder. The run is now at its peak, about 23,000 fish have passed through as of 7/5/11.

Some early chinook salmon have been spotted so if you see a larger fish with spots on its back in the viewing window, you are seeing a chinook (sockeye have no spots.) The chinook run will peak early August and then will come the coho salmon, the last of the 3 salmon species that use our fish ladder.

Don't forget the weekend concerts on the lawn- every Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.!