Alternating side-baffle fish ladder for passing fish at dams or natural barriers

A fish ladder that allows fish of varying sizes and swimming abilities to swim therethrough from a point downstream of a barrier located in flowing water to a point upstream of the barrier, comprising:

• a channel having a first sidewall and a second sidewall spaced apart at a channel width distance, the channel allowing water to flow therethrough;
• a bottom plate attached to the first sidewall and the second sidewall at a bottom point of the channel;
• a first plurality of side-baffles, each of the first plurality of side-baffles attached to the first sidewall and extending a predetermined distance into the channel;
• a second plurality of side-baffles, each of the second plurality of side-baffles attached to the second sidewall and extending a predetermined distance into the channel;
• wherein a first slot opening width distance from a tip of each one of the first plurality of side-baffles across the channel and perpendicular to the second sidewall substantially equals a second slot opening width distance from a tip of each one of the second plurality of side-baffles across the channel and perpendicular to the first sidewall;
• and
• wherein a side-baffle spacing distance from a tip of each one of the first plurality of side-baffles and perpendicular to a corresponding one of the second plurality of side-baffles located upstream substantially equals the first slot opening width distance and the second slot opening width distance.