EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated; the four-day razor clam dig has been reduced to one day.
A NEW NORTH Coast Steelhead Advisory Group has been formed to evaluate game fish regulations and propose new strategies to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
These strategies should be designed to support sustainable fishing opportunities for the North Olympic Peninsula’s rivers and streams while conserving wild native runs.
Fish and Wildlife formed the group earlier this year. It will be comprised of eight to 12 members who will meet several times per year.
Fish and Wildlife is seeking nominations for membership in the new group through Friday, May 22.
Meetings are set to begin as early as June.
Terms will end June 30, 2017.
Advisory group members will evaluate the existing steelhead regulations and hatchery production for rivers and streams on the North Olympic Peninsula.
“They will also consider proposed rules for 2016-17 and will be expected to craft alternatives that promote sustainable fisheries and meet Fish and Wildlife’s conservation goals,” said Steve Thiesfeld, regional fish program manager for the state.
“Our North Coast streams are home to some of our healthiest stocks of wild steelhead.
“We want to ensure that we have regulations in place that will perpetuate these wild coastal stocks.”
The department is seeking advisory group members representing diverse interests.
Candidates should be familiar with the Quillayute, Queets, Hoh and Clearwater rivers, Thiesfeld said.
A nomination form, along with submission instructions, is available at tinyurl.com/PDN-SteelheadGroup.
Applications may also be sent to the Montesano Regional Office at TeamMontesano@dfw.wa.gov, or mailed to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, attn: Steve Thiesfeld, 48 Devonshire Road, Montesano, WA 98563.
Nominees for the advisory group do not have to be affiliated with an organized group.
More information about the advisory group is found at tinyurl.com/PDN-Advisory.
Annual trails meeting
The Peninsula Trails Coalition’s annual membership meeting is set for the Dungeness Audubon Center at Railroad Bridge Park in Sequim on Wednesday.
The meeting is open to the public.
Refreshments will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by presentations from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on current and future developments on the Olympic Discovery Trail in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
For more information, phone Jeff Bohman at 360-457-7536, email jrbohman@icloud.com, or visit peninsulatrailscoalition.org.
Mother’s Day swim
Take Mom swimming Sunday when the Mountain View Pool in Port Townsend’s free Second Sunday Swim coincides with the observance of Mother’s Day.
The pool is restricted to adults from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., when laps, water walking and deep-water exercise take place.
From 2:15 to 5 p.m., the pool is open to all ages for a family recreation swim.
An adult must accompany children younger than age 8 in the water.
Razor clam digs
Weekend razor clam digs run today through Sunday at ocean beaches.
No digging will be allowed after noon on any beach through Saturday.
Due to a late low tide, however, Fish and Wildlife is extending the dig Sunday to 1 p.m.
Upcoming digs are scheduled on the following dates, beaches and low tides:
■ Today: 9:30 a.m.; -0.8 feet — Long Beach and Twin Harbors.
■ Friday: 10:14 a.m.; -0.7 feet — Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks.
■ Saturday: 11:03 a.m.; -0.4 feet — Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks.
■ Sunday: 11:58 a.m.; -0.1 feet — Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks.
Under state law, diggers are required to keep the first 15 clams they dig. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2015-16 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.
***UPDATE: Razor clam digs reduced to one day***
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife canceled three days of razor clam digging and limited it to one day, Thursday, at two beaches.
Here is the news release sent by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife on Thursday morning:
OLYMPIA — Three days of a four-day razor clam dig have been canceled on all ocean beaches because of public health concerns, state shellfish managers said today.
The opening will continue as planned Thursday on Long Beach and Twin Harbors beaches after state health officials cleared that day’s dig.
Levels of domoic acid, detected through routine testing, have been on the rise since late Monday and could exceed state health guidelines by this weekend. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is canceling the dig May 8-10 as a precaution, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager with WDFW.
Domoic acid, a natural toxin produced by certain types of marine algae, can be harmful or even fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities. More information about domoic acid can be found on WDFW’s webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/domoic_acid.html .
“Warm ocean water temperatures have created ideal conditions for the algae that produce domoic acid,” Ayres said.
Earlier this week, the department had approved the four-day dig after marine toxin tests over the weekend showed clams on Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks beaches were safe to eat. Since that time, routine testing detected elevated toxin levels, prompting a second round of testing on razor clams by the Washington Department of Health (WDOH).
Those tests, evaluated today, show domoic acid levels in razor clams are rising and could surpass state health guidelines by the weekend.
Since 1991, when the toxin was first detected on the Pacific coast, outbreaks of domoic acid have prompted the cancellation of three entire razor clam seasons in Washington — the last one in 2002-03. Kalaloch Beach, jointly managed by WDFW and Olympic National Park, also was closed for much of the 2004 season due to high toxin levels. In 2005, WDFW closed Long Beach for two days due to elevated toxin levels.
WDFW and WDOH will continue to monitor toxin levels to determine whether two proposed digs tentatively scheduled later in May will go forward.
Kids fishing in Sequim
The 13th annual Kids Fishing Day presented by Puget Sound Anglers’ North Olympic Peninsula Chapter is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16.
Children 14 and younger can participate in a free day of fishing in the pond just north of Carrie Blake Park in Sequim.
A total of 1,500 trout will be stocked for the big day, including some big ones up to 5 pounds.
A special pool for toddlers also will be stocked.
Club members will have some poles and bait for youth, but children are welcome to bring their own fishing supplies.
The Sequim Public Works Department and state Fish and Wildlife Department help put on this event.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
