For thousands of years, finger-sized juvenile salmon have journeyed from Pacific Northwest rivers to the sea, matured into adult fish, then returned to spawn in their native streams. The construction of hydroelectric dams, however, interfered with this migration – in some cases blocking fish passage all together. This is the story of how one Northwest dam operator, Puget Sound Energy, worked closely with other interested parties to design and build an innovative system for helping salmon move past tall, deep-reservoir dams. The “floating surface collector” they developed is drawing worldwide attention for its uniquely effect success in helping Baker River sockeye complete their storied life cycle.