PORT ANGELES — Reservations for the peak season at Fairholme Campground on Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park will be available online through www.recreation.gov, beginning Friday.
Reservations are available for May 25 through September 21. All campsites at Fairholme Campground are reservable for the peak season, making it easier to plan a trip to the national park. Any unreserved or canceled sites will be sold in person at the ranger tent in the parking lot at the Fairholme boat dock during posted hours. Outside of the reservation period, campsites will remain available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Starting next summer, the reservation period for Fairholme Campground will be the same as for other park campgrounds on the reservation system — the Wednesday before Memorial Day weekend through mid-September. The reservation system releases availability for campsites on a six-month rolling basis. This means that on November 25, people can reserve a campsite for a trip beginning May 25. Reservations become available at 7 a.m.
Reservations through recreation.gov are also available for the peak season at Kalaloch, Mora and the Hoh campgrounds. Sol Duc campground and Sol Duc RV Park are both managed by Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and reservations are available online at recreation.gov. Campsite reservations for Log Cabin Resort RV and Campground at Lake Crescent are available by phone at (888) 896-3818. All other campgrounds in Olympic National Park are first-come, first-served.
Visitors can purchase a park entrance pass online at recreation.gov at no additional cost.
For more information on camping at Olympic National Park, visit the park website at nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/camping.htm.
Bottomfish meetings
OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting two virtual public meetings this spring to discuss management options for coastal recreational bottomfish, including rockfish, lingcod and other non-salmon species in 2023 and 2024.
The first of these meetings will be held on March 16, while the second will take place on May 3. Both meetings start at 2 p.m.
West Coast bottomfish are managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council on a biennial management cycle. PFMC is currently considering harvest levels — annual catch limits — and management measures such as seasons and bag limits that will affect Washington coastal bottomfish fisheries in 2023-24.
The purpose of the March 16 meeting is to review options for the coastal recreational bottomfish season prior to PFMC’s April meeting, when the council will adopt recommendations for public review.
The May 3 meeting will consider the recommendations and hear input from the public on Washington coastal recreational bottomfish fishery prior to the PFMC’s June 2022 meeting when final regulations will be adopted.
WDFW hosted two earlier meetings in October 2021 and January 2022 to provide stakeholders with an overview of PFMC’s biennial process for bottomfish, as well as harvest trends and new abundance information for several stocks.
The spring meetings will be conducted virtually on Microsoft Teams. To participate, visit the meeting link, or call in to the meeting and then enter the meeting ID.
March 16
Call-in: 564-999-2000
Meeting ID: 569371062#
May 3
Call-in: 564-999-2000
Meeting ID: 140310854#
For more information, visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut. The meetings will be recorded and posted online so people can also watch afterward at their convenience.
Black bear meeting
OLYMPIA — The Washington Fish and Wildlife commission will hear a briefing and take public comments on proposed spring black bear special permits during its Friday virtual meeting.
The commission will take open public comment on Friday for the spring black bear special permit rule proposal.
The commission is scheduled to make a decision on spring black bear rule-making at its March 17-19 virtual meeting. More information on the proposed rule change is available on WDFW’s webpage at www.tinyurl.com/2022blackbears.
Members of the public interested in providing verbal public comment can pre-register on WDFW’s website at www. tinyurl.com/WDFWtestimony.
This meeting will be conducted online and be available to the public to watch or listen via webinar or conference call. To find more information on how to comment and to see agendas, visit WDFW’s website. The meeting will also be recorded and posted online so people can watch afterward at their convenience.
