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EnvironmentUp to date · Jan 15, 2026

Fish Ladder

A structure built alongside a dam that allows fish (especially salmon and other migratory species) to pass upstream to spawning grounds. Fish ladders consist of ascending pools that fish jump between.

Why It Matters

Dams block fish migration routes, devastating salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. Fish ladders mitigate this but don't fully restore natural fish passage — it's a major environmental trade-off of hydropower.

Related Topics

hydroelectric power

Related Terms

Hydroelectric Dam

A structure that impounds water in a reservoir, releasing it through turbines to generate electricity. The energy comes from the gravitational potential of water stored at elevation.

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