CONVENTIONAL LADDER DESIGNS (E.G., POOL-AND-WEIR, VERTICAL SLOT, DENIL) WERE GENERALLY DEVELOPED FOR SALMONIDS DECADES AGO ON THE PACIFIC COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE DESIGNS WERE LATER ADOPTED ON THE ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS BUT WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS. THE PROJECT PARTNER, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION FISHERIES, CONTINUES TO PRESCRIBE AND INSTALL THE SAME STANDARD DESIGNS DEVELOPED FOR SALMON REGARDLESS OF THE TARGET SPECIES. HOWEVER, MIGRATORY FISH ALONG THE EAST COAST SUCH AS ALOSINES (SHAD AND HERRING) AND ANGUILLIFORM SWIMMERS (EEL AND LAMPREY) HAVE MUCH DIFFERENT SWIMMING CAPABILITIES AND KINEMATICS THAN SALMONIDS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON A NEW TYPE OF FISHWAY THAT IS TAILORED SPECIFICALLY TO MIGRATORY FISH ALONG THE ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS, REFERRED TO AS THE EAST COAST LADDER. THE EAST COAST FISH LADDER IS AN INNOVATIVE UPSTREAM FISH PASSAGE STRUCTURE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PASS A MULTITUDE OF TARGET SPECIES AND REDUCE CONSTRUCTION AND LIFE CYCLE COSTS. IN ITS CURRENT FORM, IT IS CONSIDERED A POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR THE UBIQUITOUS DENIL LADDER, WHICH A SURVEY OF FISH LADDERS AT HYDROELECTRIC FACILITIES IN THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES SHOWED WAS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF VOLITIONAL FISHWAY AND WAS THE SECOND MOST COMMON TYPE OF FISHWAY OVERALL BEHIND A FISH ELEVATOR (I.E., LIFT). EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE A FINAL EAST COAST FISH LADDER DESIGN THAT WILL BE THE FOCUS OF ONE OR MORE PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES. THE MANUSCRIPTS WILL INTRODUCE THE LADDER DESIGN, DESCRIBE ITS HYDRAULIC CHARACTERISTICS UNDER A WIDE RANGE OF FLOWS, AND PRESENT ALL FISH PASSAGE PERFORMANCE DATA. THIS WORK WILL ALSO BE DESCRIBED IN A FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.