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Fish Counts

The Wells Hydroelectric Project, located on the Columbia River, has fish ladders at each end of the dam. Fish ladders allow adult fish to easily pass the dam in their upstream migration. From May 1st to November 15th Salmon and Steelhead are counted 24 hours a day on their journey through the Wells Dam fish ladders. These adult fish are headed to spawning areas and hatcheries in the Columbia, Methow, and Okanogan rivers. Once these fish have reached Wells Dam, they have migrated 515 miles from the mouth of the Columbia. Some of these fish will swim an additional 100 miles before they are ready to spawn. The Wells Project is the last dam on the Columbia River to provide fish passage.

Fish Count Data
 Nov 15Nov 14Nov 13Nov 12Nov 11Nov 10Nov 92011 Totals
Chinook Adults0206684 36,863
Chinook Jacks0241213 14,882
Sockeye0000000 111,508
Wild Steelhead53931179 4,706
Hatchery Steelhead3366145 7,363
Coho910119131919 5,796