OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — The upper Hoh River, South Fork Hoh River and tributaries to them have been closed to recreational fishing through Oct. 15.
The rivers are scheduled to reopen to fishing Oct. 16.
This emergency closure began Tuesday, Barb Maynes, Olympic National Park spokeswoman, said Wednesday.
The closure is to protect spawning chinook, she said.
The Hoh spring/summer chinook population has failed to meet the minimum escapement goal in six of the past seven years, and the number of spawners this year is projected to be below the escapement floor, she said.
Escapement is the number of fish allowed to be harvested while leaving enough for spawning.
Spawning for this wild population primarily occurs in the park, Maynes said.
“With the run size at low numbers, it is critical to provide additional protection for chinook while they are starting to spawn in park waters,” Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum said.
For more information about fishing in the park, visit www.nps.gov.