Virtually all rivers and streams in the Olympic National Park have been closed to recreational fishing effective immediately. The emergency closure that went into effect today was ordered in efforts to protect several fish populations because of ongoing severe low-flow water conditions. An ONP park news release says this year’s severe drought conditions have reduced river flows to at or near historic low levels. Water conditions are low enough they could impede upstream spawning migrations and increase the vulnerability of salmon to angling as fish concentrate in smaller and smaller pools. The broad application of the closures are necessary to better protect Pacific salmon, steelhead trout and federally threatened bull trout in the park’s rivers and creeks, according to the news release. A list of the rivers and streams closed to recreational fishing in Olympic National Park – virtually all of them – is available on the ONP park website.
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