The Economic Times

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spent $7 million on fish ladders in 1938 to move salmon past Bonneville Dam; decades later, the system carries 1 million a season in good years

The Bonneville Dams fish ladders, designed as part of a New Deal initiative, remain operational after decades of service. The construction saw a notable increase in budget allocation. Annually, millions of fish traverse these ladders, predominantly hatchery-reared. However, wild salmon populations continue to dwindle, impacted by upstream dams and climate change, underscoring persistent environmental challenges despite the fish ladders' effectiveness.