Originally published Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 2:38 PM

Salmon swim past Wanapum Dam
Modifications to the fish ladders at Wanapum Dam are allowing safe passage to upstream migrating adult salmon and steelhead.

BEVERLY, Wash. —
Modifications to the fish ladders at Wanapum Dam are allowing safe passage to upstream migrating adult salmon and steelhead.

A crack that was found February in Wanapum Dam resulted in a reservoir drawdown at the dam that had left the original fish ladders high and dry. But the fish ladders have been modified to allow passage.

The Grant County Public Utility District said Wednesday the most recent counts showed 31 spring chinook and 102 steelhead successfully exited the Wanapum Dam left bank fish ladder this week. They were the first of 15,000 spring chinook expected to make their way up the Columbia River to spawning grounds.

Three steelhead and eight whitefish have gone on to pass the Rock Island Dam fish ladders since counts began this week.