Linn County is fixing one of its ‘fish ladders.’ What does it do?

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CENTRAL CITY — The Pinicon Ridge Park Dam is getting a touchup this fall to preserve the ecological benefits from its recent restoration.

Linn County Conservation, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, intends to hire a contractor later this year to make repairs to the “fish ladder” on the dam’s west side immediately below the Main Street bridge in Central City.

The feature — first installed in 2023 as part of the Pinicon Ridge Park Dam modification project — includes a series of ascending, water-filled pools that allow migratory fish to travel upstream without being stopped by dams or other barriers.

During the installation, construction crews created the aquatic p