News Release

Emergency Closure of Recreational Fishing in Most Rivers and Streams of Olympic National Park to Begin on October 6

Date: October 5, 2022

To protect several fish populations during the ongoing severe low-flow conditions, an emergency closure of recreational fishing will begin on October 6 at 12:01 am. The following river systems within Olympic National Park will close to all recreational fishing until further notice: Ozette, Bogachiel, South Fork Calawah, Sol Duc, North Fork Sol Duc, Dickey, Quillayute, Hoh, South Fork Hoh, Queets, Salmon, and Quinault Rivers (including East Fork, North Fork, Main Stem). Additionally, Cedar, Goodman, Kalaloch, and Mosquito Creeks within Olympic National Park are closed as of 12:01 AM October 6, 2022.

This year’s severe drought conditions have reduced river flows to at or near historic low levels. This emergency closure is designed to protect fish in areas where severe conditions have reduced river flows to historical low levels. Low water conditions may impede upstream spawning migrations and also increase the vulnerability of salmonids to angling as fish concentrate in smaller and smaller pools. The broad application of this closure is necessary to address angling pressure during these extreme low-flow conditions to better protect Pacific salmon, steelhead trout, and federally threatened bull trout in the park’s rivers and creeks. This closure is consistent with our cooperative managers.

Olympic National Park sport fishing regulations for 2022-2023 are available on the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/fishing.htm as well as at park visitor centers, fee booths, ranger stations, and area fishing stores.