Bonneville Dam-Columbia River

The Bonneville Lock and Dam, built and operated by the U.S. Army Corp of engineers, was the first federal lock and dam on the Columbia River. Construction began in 1933 and dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt on Sept. 28, 1937. Fish ladders were also incorpated into the dam design to allow the salmon and steelhead to migrate. The fish ladders are quite sophisticated...the fish can jump the ladders or take the easy way and just swim through the bottom of the ladders. Fish counts are conducted daily through fish viewing windows, which helps biologists track increases and decreases in fish runs.



Fish viewing window

This is "Herman" a 10 ft. 65 year old steelhead trout who lives in the fish hatchery adjacent to the dam.