[ODFW-News] Chetco Closes Friday

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Meghan Collins (541) 440-3353=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (541) 673-0372
=09
For Immediate Release	October 29, 2002

Chetco River Closes Friday to Protect Chinook Salmon Stocks

GOLD BEACH - Beginning Nov. 1, the Chetco River upstream of the Highway =
101 bridge will close to salmon and steelhead angling. Oregon Department =
of Fish and Wildlife Director Lindsay Ball signed the emergency order =
today to protect salmon that are stacking up in the tidewater area because =
of low water flows.=20

Hundreds of chinook are kegged up in two holes on the Chetco River and the =
fish are extremely vulnerable to legal and illegal fishing, according to =
ODFW biologist Todd Confer in Gold Beach. The closure will remain in =
effect until a significant rainfall allows the fish to move further =
upriver.  Current weather forecasts predict continued dry conditions.

Confer said many people support the closure.  "Most people are expecting =
the closure and think the river should be temporarily closed. They agree =
we need to maintain healthy stocks of fish."

ODFW is continuing to provide angling opportunity from the Highway 101 =
Bridge over the Chetco downstream to the mouth of the river. =20

"Fish aren't kegged up in the lower estuary, so people can still try their =
luck fishing there," Confer said.  "This provides about a half-mile of =
angling opportunity, and once the closure is lifted, there will be a =
substantial fishery up and down the river."

Even though other coastal rivers have low flows, chinook populations in =
these rivers are not as vulnerable as the Chetco run and no other closures =
currently are being contemplated. Fall chinook populations are strong =
throughout the coast. The lower Yachats River below Highway 101 Bridge was =
closed last week due to a large sand bar stranding fish.

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Information and Education Section
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528