Both the large and small locks at the Ballard Locks will be closed to all marine traffic from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on June 9.

The closure will allow construction crews and dive teams the opportunity to inspect the salmon exclusion structure immediately upstream of the locks.

The staff will make maximum efforts to complete the work as soon and as safely as possible, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers press release.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, which operates the locks, installed this interim salmon exclusion structure to prevent salmon from being trapped in the saltwater return system.

During last year's salmon migration, biologists only found one adult coho salmon in the return system, according to the press release.

The structure prevents salmon access to the locks' saltwater return system and improves the viability of the salmon runs, which use the fish ladder to return upstream to their spawning grounds.

The design allows for the doors to be manually closed to screen fish during migration and opened when the salmon are not migrating.

Emergency vessels on an emergency call will have access to the locks during the closure.

Boaters may call the lockmaster on duty at 206.783.7000 to verify that the locks are open.

For current information about activities at the locks, visit the Corps of
Engineers Web site and select "Dams and Locks" then "Lake Washington Ship Canal" from the left column.