September 30, 2008
Action: Close a 21-mile section of the Yakima River bordering the Yakama Nation Reservation to non-tribal fishing for fall chinook and coho salmon
Effective date: Oct. 1 through Oct. 22, 2008
Species affected: Fall chinook and coho salmon (both hatchery and wild origin)
Location: Yakima River from the Highway 223 bridge (at Granger) upstream to Sunnyside (Parker) Dam.
Reason for action: The Yakama Nation has federally reserved exclusive fishing rights on waters that border its reservation. At this time, the Yakama Nation has not waived their exclusive fishing rights that would allow the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to open a non-tribal sport fishery on boundary waters of the Yakima River. As a result, WDFW is closing the state's sport fishery on the 21 mile section of the Yakima River that borders the Yakama Nation Reservation.
Other Information: The sport fishery for fall chinook and coho salmon remains open through October 22 in the river reach between the Hwy. 240 bridge at Richland and Prosser Dam, which is downstream of the Yakama Reservation boundary (see Page 90 in the 2008-09 fishing rules pamphlet for details). Fishing for steelhead remains closed. All steelhead must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
Information contact: John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager, (509) 457-9330 (Yakima).
Effective date: Oct. 1 through Oct. 22, 2008
Species affected: Fall chinook and coho salmon (both hatchery and wild origin)
Location: Yakima River from the Highway 223 bridge (at Granger) upstream to Sunnyside (Parker) Dam.
Reason for action: The Yakama Nation has federally reserved exclusive fishing rights on waters that border its reservation. At this time, the Yakama Nation has not waived their exclusive fishing rights that would allow the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to open a non-tribal sport fishery on boundary waters of the Yakima River. As a result, WDFW is closing the state's sport fishery on the 21 mile section of the Yakima River that borders the Yakama Nation Reservation.
Other Information: The sport fishery for fall chinook and coho salmon remains open through October 22 in the river reach between the Hwy. 240 bridge at Richland and Prosser Dam, which is downstream of the Yakama Reservation boundary (see Page 90 in the 2008-09 fishing rules pamphlet for details). Fishing for steelhead remains closed. All steelhead must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
Information contact: John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager, (509) 457-9330 (Yakima).