the film forum library tutorial contact

Sea Lions Barred at Dam by Staff BPA Journal, March 2006

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began installing permanent barriers at Bonneville Dam in February to keep sea lions from entering fish ladders while allowing adult salmon to pass. The Sea Lion Exclusion Devices, or SLEDs, are steel racks installed into the 12 fishway entrances at the dam.

The SLEDs will vary from 10 to 15 feet in width and 30 to 36 feet in height. The Corps will install 24 ina all. Each weighs more than 10,000 pounds. The cost is largely funded by ratepayer dollars through BPA.

Although sea lions have visited the tailwater of the dam for many years, the first time one was observed entering the fishways was in 2004. Biologists are concerned that the presence of sea lions in the fishways may delay fish passage, increase predation or damage sensitive monitoring equipment.