Wednesday October 30, 2024
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife —
Today the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced changes to two steelhead hatchery programs in Clallam and King counties to support wild steelhead conservation and future fisheries. These decisions follow engagement and review with federal fisheries managers and tribal co-managers.
The Department’s segregated broodstock early winter steelhead hatchery programs at the Dungeness Hatchery on the Dungeness River in Sequim and the Tokul Creek Hatchery on the Snoqualmie River in Fall City will end at the end of 2024 to reduce interbreeding between early winter hatchery and wild steelhead.
WDFW and tribal co-managers are developing plans for an integrated broodstock winter steelhead program at Tokul Creek Hatchery to replace the current segregated program. In the face of habitat degradation and climate change, an integrated program provides a tool to contribute to the rebuilding of the Snoqualmie winter steelhead run and fishing opportunities for tribal fishers and recreational anglers.
“The Snoqualmie River provides accessible steelhead fishing close to urban and residential centers,” said Edward Eleazer, WDFW’s North Puget Sound Region Fish Program manager. “Switching to an integrated broodstock program at Tokul Creek will support steelhead conservation and sustainable fishing opportunities into the future.”