January 6, 2012
Action: Close the Snohomish River system to fishing.
Species affected: All game fish.
Locations and effective dates:
Snohomish River: From mouth (Burlington Northern railroad bridge) upstream to confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Skykomish River: From mouth to Highway 2 bridge at the Big Eddy Access will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Skykomish River: From Highway 2 bridge at the Big Eddy Access to confluence of North and South forks will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 16, 2012.
Pilchuck River: From mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Snohomish city diversion dam will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Sultan River: From mouth to 400 feet downstream of diversion dam (river mile 9.7) will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Wallace River: From mouth (farthest downstream railroad bridge) to 200 feet upstream of water intake of salmon hatchery will be closed to all fishing Feb. 16, 2012.
Wallace River: From 200 feet upstream of water intake of salmon hatchery to Wallace Falls will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
North Fork Skykomish River: From mouth to 1000 feet downstream of Bear Creek Falls will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
South Fork Skykomish River: From mouth to 600 feet downstream of Sunset Falls Fishway will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Snoqualmie River: From mouth to boat ramp at Plum access will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Snoqualmie River: From boat ramp at Plum access to Snoqualmie Falls will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 16, 2012.
Tolt River: From mouth to USGS trolley cable near confluence of North and South Forks will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Raging River: From mouth to Highway 18 Bridge will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Tokul Creek: From mouth to posted cable boundary marker will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 16, 2012.
Reasons for action: The 2011-2012 forecast of wild steelhead returning to the Snohomish River system is well below the spawning goal. These closures will reduce the incidental hooking mortalities of wild steelhead. Puget Sound wild steelhead populations are listed as "Threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.
Other information: Rules re-opening fisheries in the Snohomish River basin will be listed in the 2012/2013 Sportfishing Rules Pamphlet.
Information Contact: Jennifer Whitney, District Fish Biologist, (425) 775-1311, Jennifer.Whitney@dfw.wa.gov; Annette Hoffmann, Region 4 Fish Program Manager, (425) 775-1311, Annette.Hoffmann@dfw.wa.gov
Species affected: All game fish.
Locations and effective dates:
Snohomish River: From mouth (Burlington Northern railroad bridge) upstream to confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Skykomish River: From mouth to Highway 2 bridge at the Big Eddy Access will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Skykomish River: From Highway 2 bridge at the Big Eddy Access to confluence of North and South forks will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 16, 2012.
Pilchuck River: From mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Snohomish city diversion dam will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Sultan River: From mouth to 400 feet downstream of diversion dam (river mile 9.7) will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Wallace River: From mouth (farthest downstream railroad bridge) to 200 feet upstream of water intake of salmon hatchery will be closed to all fishing Feb. 16, 2012.
Wallace River: From 200 feet upstream of water intake of salmon hatchery to Wallace Falls will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
North Fork Skykomish River: From mouth to 1000 feet downstream of Bear Creek Falls will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
South Fork Skykomish River: From mouth to 600 feet downstream of Sunset Falls Fishway will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Snoqualmie River: From mouth to boat ramp at Plum access will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Snoqualmie River: From boat ramp at Plum access to Snoqualmie Falls will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 16, 2012.
Tolt River: From mouth to USGS trolley cable near confluence of North and South Forks will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Raging River: From mouth to Highway 18 Bridge will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 1, 2012.
Tokul Creek: From mouth to posted cable boundary marker will be closed to all fishing on Feb. 16, 2012.
Reasons for action: The 2011-2012 forecast of wild steelhead returning to the Snohomish River system is well below the spawning goal. These closures will reduce the incidental hooking mortalities of wild steelhead. Puget Sound wild steelhead populations are listed as "Threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.
Other information: Rules re-opening fisheries in the Snohomish River basin will be listed in the 2012/2013 Sportfishing Rules Pamphlet.
Information Contact: Jennifer Whitney, District Fish Biologist, (425) 775-1311, Jennifer.Whitney@dfw.wa.gov; Annette Hoffmann, Region 4 Fish Program Manager, (425) 775-1311, Annette.Hoffmann@dfw.wa.gov