$18 million in improvements eases fish passage on the Clackamas River
In December 2006, what used to be a rock cliff face just below the powerhouse at PGE’s River Mill Dam near Estacada received a new, streamlined fish ladder. The $18 million project was designed to improve fish passage on the Clackamas River.
“The original River Mill fish ladder was built in 1911 and was very effective in its day. And thanks to a couple of upgrades over the years, it was doing a pretty good job of getting fish past River Mill. But it was time to step things up and build a ladder that meets today’s standards. The new facility has more attraction flow to draw fish to the ladder and other features to make passage easier for all fish species.
The new ladder has two entrances. Salmon and steelhead make a gradual climb up the 88-foot rise to the reservoir behind River Mill Dam as they journey upstream to spawning grounds in the upper Clackamas and its tributaries.
