WDFW seeks input on potential change to upper Green River fishery

OLYMPIA – State fishery managers are hosting a public meeting this month to discuss a proposal to close all fishing in a section of the upper Green River to protect water quality in the Tacoma Municipal Watershed. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled the public meeting to begin at 5 p.m., Sept. 24, at the department’s North Puget Sound regional office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek.  

The public can comment on the proposal at the meeting or online through Oct. 17. To review and comment on the proposal, visit WDFW’s website at  https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/season-setting. 

Under the proposal, WDFW would permanently close the section of the upper Green River from the Tacoma Municipal Watershed Boundary Marker (approximately 1.3 miles downstream of the Tacoma Headworks Dam) to the Friday Creek confluence.  

This section of river is closed to public access by Tacoma Public Utilities, which has asked WDFW to consider closing the area to fishing to protect the reduce confusion in the public and protect the watershed.  

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission also will hear testimony on the proposal during its Oct. 18-19 meeting in Olympia. For the specific day and time, check the commission’s website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission. 

The commission, which sets policy for WDFW, is expected to take action on the proposal at its meeting in December. If the commission approves this change, the rule will take effect in early 2020. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and other recreation opportunities.