Close a portion of the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River to all fishing

August 1, 2013

Action: Close 4.5 miles of the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River to all fishing including catch and release fishing.

Effective date: Aug. 5, 2013 through Sept. 30, 2013.

Species affected: All game fish species.

Location: Stillaguamish River from the Highway 530 bridge at Cicero upstream to the bridge at Oso (Oso Loop Road/221st Ave. SE).

Reason for action: To protect summer steelhead holding in the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River below the mouth of Deer Creek. The concern is that low flows and excessively warm water temperatures will result in high handling mortality of steelhead.

Additional Information: This fishery may reopen early if conditions improve (flows rise and water temperature cools) and the closure may be extended if conditions persist past Sept. 30, 2013.

Information contacts: Jennifer Whitney, District 13 fish biologist, (425) 775-1311

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing-hotlines to find a list of mobile, web, print, or customer service phone options for the latest rule information.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.