April Meeting moved to March 28th- Meet with WDFW to discuss salmon fisheries in the Columbia

Wednesday, March 28th, 2018 - 6:00pm to Wednesday, March 28th, 2018 - 8:00pm

Meetings set for March 27-29 on salmon fisheries
in sections of Columbia and Snake rivers

 

 

OLYMPIA – Anglers have three opportunities in March to meet with state fishery managers to talk about salmon fisheries in the mid- and upper Columbia River and lower Snake River before this year's seasons are set.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled three public meetings to discuss pre-season salmon forecasts and upcoming spring, summer and fall fishing seasons – particularly those proposed for salmon upstream from McNary Dam.

Additionally, fishery managers plan to discuss with the public ways to simplify salmon-fishing regulations at these meetings. Over the last two years, WDFW has been working to simplify regulations after hearing from the public that the state's fishing rules are too complex.

The upcoming public meetings are as scheduled:

  • Region 1 - Clarkston: 6-8 p.m., March 27, Walla Walla Community College, Clarkston Campus Auditorium, 1470 Bridge St., Clarkston.
  • Region 2 - Wenatchee: 6-8 p.m., March 28, Douglas PUD (public meeting room), 1151 Valley Mall Pkwy., East Wenatchee.
  • Region 3 - Kennewick: 6-8 p.m., March 29, Kennewick Irrigation District, 2015 S. Ely St., Kennewick.

These meetings are part of the salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon, which involves representatives from federal, state and tribal governments and recreational and commercial fishing industries. Additional public meetings have been scheduled through early April to discuss regional fisheries.

Final salmon fishing seasons for 2018-19 are scheduled to be adopted at the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting April 6-11 in Portland, Ore.

A meeting schedule, salmon forecasts and information about the salmon season-setting process for Puget Sound, the Columbia River and the Washington coast are available on WDFW's website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/.

Comments about salmon fisheries, as well as salmon rule simplification, can be submitted online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/2018/ or at the meetings.