Portion of Elwha River closes for fishing

A section of the Elwha River – from the Lake Aldwell Dam (lower Elwha Dam) downstream to the new bridge on Elwha River Road – is closed to fishing through Nov. 15.

State officials started a fish counting project in the upper section of the lower Elwha River in early October.

The area also is needed for collection of chinook broodstock. The number of Endangered Species Act listed chinook returning to the Elwha River is down this year, making broodstock collection more difficult state officials said.

Closing this section of the river will help minimize disturbances to spawning fish and facilitate more efficient broodstock collection, according to officials from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

This section from Lake Aldwell Dam to the Elwha River Road reopens Nov. 16 for trout and other game fish.

The section of the Elwha River downstream of the new bridge on Elwha River Road opened Oct.1 for coho salmon and trout.

For more information, call Mike Gross, state fish biologist, at 360-249-1210.