EDITOR’S NOTE: — See related PDN outdoors column today: “OUTDOORS: Rainfall raises, reopens some Peninsula rivers to recreational fishing” — https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150902/NEWS/309029977
FROM STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE:
OLYMPIA, Sept. 2 — State fishery managers are easing drought-related fishing restrictions and closures on more than a dozen rivers where conditions have improved.
The changes are effective immediately.
To protect fish, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife previously closed or restricted fishing on more than 60 rivers and streams due to drought-induced low river flows and warm water temperatures.
Conditions in some rivers have returned to normal for this time of year thanks to recent rains and cooler weather, said Ron Warren, Fish and Wildlife salmon policy lead.
“We’re seeing lower water temperatures and river flows typical for late summer in several rivers around the state,” Warren said. “If those conditions continue, we’ll likely ease restrictions in other rivers in the coming days and weeks.”
Any future changes will be posted on Fish and Wildlife’s drought webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/drought/ .
The webpage also contains information on fishing closures or “hoot owl” restrictions — which limit the hours that a river is open to fishing — that remain in place on more than 40 rivers and streams across Washington.
Fishing is open, or no longer restricted to specified hours, on the rivers listed by region below.
Region 6 – Olympic Peninsula and South Sound
Hoot owl restrictions lifted on:
Nisqually River
Reopening to fishing:
Quilcene River
Upper Quilleyute River
Lower Dickey River
Lower Sol Duc River
Lower Calawah River
Lower Bogachiel River
Lower Clearwater River
Salmon River
Region 3 – South Central Washington
Hoot owl restrictions lifted on:
Naches River from Tieton River to Bumping River/Little Naches River
Rattlesnake Creek
Yakima River from I-82 at Union Gap to South Cle Elum Bridge
Region 4 – North Puget Sound
Reopening to fishing:
Lower Nooksack River from Slater Road to Deming
Lower Skykomish River
Stillaguamish River from Marine Drive upstream to the North and South forks
Region 5 – Southwest Washington
Hoot-owl restrictions lifted on:
East Fork Lewis River from Lewisville Park upstream
Washougal River from Mt. Norway Bridge upstream
Reopening to fishing:
East Fork Lewis River from Lewisville Park downstream
Washougal River from Mt. Norway Bridge downstream
More details on the actions taken Wednesday can be found on Fish and Wildlife’s webpage at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/index.jsp
The department also has rescinded a moratorium on sturgeon fishing in the Columbia Basin.
In addition, Fish and Wildlife is easing restrictions on the rivers listed above for suction dredging for gold and mechanical removal of aquatic plants.
