BEVERLY - The Grant County PUD modified one of its two fish ladders at the Wanapum Dam and is sending hatchery-raised fish down the Columbia River to test it.

Until they are sure that the new additions to the fish ladder will allow spring Chinook salmon safe passage at lowered river levels, they are sending 250 hatchery-raised salmon as "guinea fish" to test the system, according to spokesman Chuck Allen on Tuesday.

Allen said the PUD has already tracked one salmon that was able to safely navigate around the new additions and made it past Chelan County PUD's Rock Island Dam.

He said that only a few salmon a day would typically pass this time of year, but in May as many as 1,500 a day will be lining up to use Wanapum's fish ladder.

"That is why it is so important to make sure we have the modifications in place," Allen said.

Until they are sure that the improvements are enough to allow salmon to pass, Grant PUD is trapping them at the Priest Rapids hatchery and is hauling them, in a truck, 50 miles upriver.

Allen said they are currently trucking less than 10 salmon per day. This is required because Chinook Salmon are a protected species under the Endangered Species Act and their path to spawning grounds is also protected.

After more of the hatchery-raised "guinea fish" have the opportunity to pass Wanapum and Rock Island dam, Grant PUD will share their results with tribal members and other share holders to see if their fixes are enough.

Allen said that the trap and haul tactic will not work when the masses of spawning Chinook show up next month.

Overall, he said that 300,000-400,000 Chinook salmon will pass through Wanapum Dam this season.