2015-09-26

2015-09-23

2015-09-22

2015-09-21

2015-09-20

2015-09-16

2015-09-15

Drought restrictions lifted for most Puget Sound Rivers

WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE   
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov

September 11, 2015

Drought restrictions lifted for most Puget Sound Rivers

Actions: Lift drought restrictions on most Puget Sound Rivers.

Species affected: All species.

Effective date: Immediately

Locations:

Open as described in the current fishing rules pamphlet:

• Snoqualmie River from the mouth to Snoqualmie Falls.
• Skykomish River (Snohomish Co.) from mouth upstream to the confluence of the North and South Forks.
• North Fork Skykomish River (Snohomish Co.) from mouth upstream including all tributaries.
• South Fork Skykomish River (Snohomish/King Co.) from Sunset Falls upstream and all tributaries, including the Beckler, Foss, Miller and Rapid rivers and their tributaries.
• Stillaguamish River (Skagit/Snohomish Co.) from Marine Drive upstream including the North and South Forks and all tributaries.
• Sauk River (Skagit/Snohomish Co.) from the confluence with the Suiattle River upstream including North Fork to the falls and South Fork to headwaters.
• Samish River (Skagit Co.) from I-5 to headwaters and Friday Creek from mouth upstream.
• Nooksack River from the Lummi Indian Reservation boundary to forks. (The Nooksack from the yellow marker at the FFA high school barn in Deming to the forks, remains closed per permanent rules until Oct.1).
• North Fork Nooksack from the mouth to Nooksack Falls and all tributaries draining into the North Fork Nooksack from the mouth to Nooksack Falls.
• Middle Fork Nooksack from mouth to the City of Bellingham Diversion Dam and all tributaries draining into the Middle Fork Nooksack from the mouth to the Diversion Dam.
• South Fork Nooksack (Whatcom Co.) from Wanlick Creek upstream, including Wanlick Creek and all tributaries (catch-and-release fly fishing only).

Other information:

The following rivers will remain closed to all fishing:

• Raging River (King Co.) from the mouth upstream.
• Suiattle River (Skagit Co.) tributaries Buck, Downey and Sulpher Creeks.
• Wallace River (Snohomish Co.) from the mouth upstream including all tributaries.
• South Fork Nooksack (Whatcom Co.) from the mouth to Skookum Creek including tributaries.

Reasons for action: Water flow and temperatures are back with the normal range for this time of year for most rivers so drought restrictions are being lifted. The Raging and Wallace rivers, and the Suiattle tributaries of Buck, Downey and Sulfur creeks, remain closed to provide additional protection to spawning Chinook. The South Fork Nooksack from the mouth to the mouth of Skookum Creek remains closed to protect spawning spring chinook and may reopen after peak spawn time.

Information contacts: Jennifer Whitney, District 13 Fish Biologist, (425) 775-1311.

2015-09-06

2015-09-05

2015-09-02

WDFW NEWS RELEASE 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091 
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

Sept. 2, 2015
Contact: Ron Warren, (360) 902-2799

WDFW eases restrictions, closures
on some rivers affected by drought

OLYMPIA - 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 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) 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, WDFW 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 WDFW'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 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
• Stilliguamish 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

Region 6 - Olympic Peninsula and South Sound

Hoot owl restrictions lifted on:

• Nisqually River

Reopening to fishing:

• Quilcene River
• Upper Quileyute River
• Lower Dickey River
• Lower Sol Duc River
• Lower Calwah River
• Lower Bogachiel River
• Lower Clearwater River
• Salmon River

More details on the actions taken today can be found on WDFW'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, WDFW is easing restrictions on the rivers listed above for suction dredging for gold and mechanical removal of aquatic plants.

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2015-09-02

2015-09-01

2015-09-01

Amazing!!!!!! that's all i can say!!!!