NEWS RELEASE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

January 3, 2003
Contact: Bob Leland, (360) 902-2817

Poor hatchery steelhead returns prompt fishing
closures on seven northern Puget Sound rivers

OLYMPIA – Recreational game fish fishing will close Monday (Jan. 6) on
sections of seven northern Puget Sound rivers to ensure enough adult
steelhead return to hatcheries to produce the next generation, the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

The rivers affected by the emergency game fish fishing closure are:

The Cascade River from its mouth upstream to the Rockport Cascade Road Bridge
The North Fork Nooksack River from the mouth of Racehorse Creek upstream to
the mouth of Kendall Creek
The Upper North Fork Stillaguamish River from the mouth of Little French
Creek, approximately one mile downstream of Fortson Creek, to 25 yards
upstream of the mouth of the outlet of White Horse Rearing Ponds
The mainstem Skykomish River from 1,500 feet upstream to 1,000 feet
downstream of the Reiter Ponds outlet
The Upper Wallace River from the railroad trestle (downstream of Highway 2
Bridge) upstream to the mouth of Olney Creek
The mainstem Snoqualmie River from the Plum Access boat launch ramp, about a
quarter mile downstream of the mouth of Tokul Creek, to Snoqualmie Falls
Tokul Creek from the mouth to the posted cable boundary marker about 700 feet
upstream
"This is a precautionary measure," said Bob Leland, WDFW Steelhead Fish
Manager. "The low hatchery steelhead returns on these rivers is not at a
critical point yet, but it is better to be conservative at this point in the
season."

The closed areas could reopen to fishing if egg take requirements are assured
before the end of February.