December 17, 2009
Action: Closes a portion of the North Fork Stillaguamish River.
Effective dates: Dec. 21, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010.
Species affected: All game fish.
Location: North Fork Stillaguamish River, downstream from the Whitehorse Bridge approximately 4 river miles to the French Creek confluence. This closure includes the Whitehorse Hatchery effluent and Fortson Hole area of the North Fork Stillaguamish.
Reasons for action: The Whitehorse Hatchery facility is significantly below its egg-take requirements that are needed to achieve the release target of 140,000 hatchery steelhead smolts. The closure of the fishery in this area is necessary in order to collect sufficient fish to meet broodstock needs.
Other information: That portion of the North Fork Stillaguamish River is scheduled to re-open to recreational fishing Feb. 1, 2010. However, if spawning goals are met before then, the department could re-open the river earlier.
Information Contact: Jennifer Whitney, District 13 Fish Biologist, 425-775-1311 ext. 107, whitnjlw@dfw.wa.gov
Effective dates: Dec. 21, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010.
Species affected: All game fish.
Location: North Fork Stillaguamish River, downstream from the Whitehorse Bridge approximately 4 river miles to the French Creek confluence. This closure includes the Whitehorse Hatchery effluent and Fortson Hole area of the North Fork Stillaguamish.
Reasons for action: The Whitehorse Hatchery facility is significantly below its egg-take requirements that are needed to achieve the release target of 140,000 hatchery steelhead smolts. The closure of the fishery in this area is necessary in order to collect sufficient fish to meet broodstock needs.
Other information: That portion of the North Fork Stillaguamish River is scheduled to re-open to recreational fishing Feb. 1, 2010. However, if spawning goals are met before then, the department could re-open the river earlier.
Information Contact: Jennifer Whitney, District 13 Fish Biologist, 425-775-1311 ext. 107, whitnjlw@dfw.wa.gov