The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard will close to much or all marine traffic at various times Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 5-20, Photography By: Salty Dog Boating News, Salty Dog Maritime Marketing, the marine traffic Pacific Northwest to Alaska marine traffic year round seasonal source!
Ballard Locks, WA Ship Canal: On Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, U.S. Navy divers are scheduled to prepare the Adult Salmon Exclusion Structure for normal winter operations this is per usual annual maintenance. The locks will have a full closure both large and small locks – from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 31, and a large lock only closure from 8-11 a.m. Nov. 1, 2017 – then the small locks will reopen.
For larger vessels: The large lock at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard is scheduled to close to all marine traffic from in 2017 – 9 a.m., Nov. 5, to 5 p.m., Nov. 20, for annual maintenance. The small lock will still be available for vessels less than 115 feet in length and 26 feet in width throughout the large lock maintenance period. Please note, however, that in conjunction with the Lock closure, BNSF Railway will make structural upgrades to the Ballard railroad bridge which crosses Lake Washington Ship Canal west of the Locks. High mast vessels able to use the small lock will not be able to pass the bridge during the four BNSF Railway closures from 9 a.m. to midnight, Nov. 5, 7, 12 and 14.
Especially with Fall fishing in the Pacific Northwest in the Puget Sound that is underway – Vessel operators should pay close attention to times, vessel-size restrictions and impacts caused by railroad bridge maintenance.
F/V Kona Rose Seine Fishing Boat, Fall Fishing Ballard Locks to Puget Sound, Photography By: Salty Dog Boating News, Salty Dog Maritime Marketing, the marine traffic Pacific Northwest to Alaska marine traffic year round seasonal source! PNW
The scheduled repairs to the large lock are part of an annual general maintenance program. The Adult Salmon Exclusion Structure, immediately upstream of the locks, prevents salmon from entering the locks’ saltwater return intake in late spring. Navy divers from Naval Base Kitsap close 10, 10-foot-by-6-foot doors and inspect the 30-by-60 foot curved-front, mesh screen structure. The Navy regularly supports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with this procedure before salmon migration season begins mid-June. In autumn, this fall season, divers will open the Adult Salmon Exclusion Structure until next spring of 2018. We lover our wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest.
F/V Debra Sue, Gillnetter Bowpicker, 12’s Dawgs Yacht, Small Locks Ballard Locks for a drop, Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard, Fall Fishing PNW Underway, Photography By: Salty Dog Boating News, Salty Dog Maritime Marketing, the marine traffic Pacific Northwest to Alaska marine traffic year round seasonal source! GO FISHING!
At the Ballard Locks prior to installation of the large screen structure in 2008, adult salmon sometimes entered a diffuser well beneath the fish ladder. The well does not have an exit and entering it led to salmon migration delay, injury or death. The saltwater drain structure improves viability of salmon using the fish ladder returning upstream to spawning grounds.
Ballard Locks, Chittenden Locks in Ballard schedules October-November closings, Vessel operators should pay close attention to times, vessel-size restrictions and impacts caused by railroad bridge maintenance, Photography By: Salty Dog Boating News, Salty Dog Maritime Marketing, the marine traffic Pacific Northwest to Alaska marine traffic year round seasonal source! PNW Fall Locks Maintenance
The inspections require Lock closure to all but emergency vessels on emergency calls. The staff will complete work as quickly and safely as possible. Monthly inspection closures will be posted at least a week prior on the Seattle District’s public web site at http://bit.ly/BoaterInfo and on the Locks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chittendenlocks – Go Boating!
Ballard Locks, Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard will close to much or all marine traffic at various times Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 5-20. Vessel operators should pay close attention to times, vessel-size restrictions and impacts caused by railroad bridge maintenance., Photography By: Salty Dog Boating News, Salty Dog Maritime Marketing, the marine traffic Pacific Northwest to Alaska marine traffic year round seasonal source!
The Chittenden Locks fish ladder was one of the first in the nation. Former Seattle District Engineer Maj. Hiram M. Chittenden understood salmon’s importance to the Pacific Northwest ecosystem and incorporated a fish ladder in the Locks early 1900s design. In 1976, Corps officials renovated and improved the ladder to reflect changes in fish conservation. Led by Corps Fish Biologist Dr. Scott Pozarycki, the Locks are still the focus of studies detailing migrating juvenile and adult salmon and other species.
More than 60,000 vessels safely transit the Locks each year between Lake Washington and Salmon Bay in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. For current information about activities at the Locks, visit the Locks’ Web site at http://bit.ly/BallardLocks or follow the Locks on Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/chittendenlocks and http://twitter.com/ChittendenLocks. Happy Safe PNW Boating!
F/ V Kona Rose, Seine Fishing Vessel, Seattle WA Ship Canal, drop down into the Puget Sound Fall Fishing Underway PNW, Photography By: Salty Dog Boating News, Salty Dog Maritime Marketing, the marine traffic Pacific Northwest to Alaska marine traffic year round seasonal source! PNW
