fish ladder

noun

: a series of pools arranged like steps by which fish can pass over a dam in going upstream

Examples of fish ladder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This journey requires them to climb fish ladders over dams, navigate culverts diverting streams under roads, and ascend up to elevations of 7,000 feet. Idaho Statesman, 12 June 2026 In April, the tribe announced a collaboration with CalTrout, the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve and the city of Chico on the Iron Canyon Fish Passage Project, which will restore a nonfunctioning fish ladder that blocked salmon from reaching water cold enough for their survival. Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026 In 2022, the Alameda County Water District completed a massive infrastructure project downstream that included a series of fish ladders to help with the migration of Pacific lamprey, endangered steelhead trout and, of course, salmon. Ryan Yamamoto, CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025 Since the beginning of November, volunteers from the nonprofit group Alameda Creek Alliance — which has worked to remove dams and install fish ladders since 1997 — have recorded nearly a dozen specimens of Chinook Salmon. Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fish ladder

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fish ladder was in 1855

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Cite this Entry

“Fish ladder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fish%20ladder. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

fish ladder

noun
: an arrangement of pools by which fish can pass around a dam

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