Hanford Reach steelhead fishery to close

RICHLAND — The Hanford Reach steelhead fishery will close Jan. 1.

The closure is from the Interstate 182 bridge upstream to the old Hanford townsite powerline crossing over the Columbia River.

It will remain in effect iuntil April 15.

State Department of Fish and Wildlife said the closure is being ordered due to predictions of a low Ringold Springs Hatchery return.

The run is expected to be the lowest in more than 20 years, officials said, noting the hatchery needs broodstock to produce a goal of 180,000 juvenile steelhead to be released in 2022.

Downstream of the U.S. Highway 395 bridge (the Blue Bridge) connecting Pasco and Kennewick, steelhead are still on the menu from Jan. 1 to March 31.

State officials said from the bridge downstream to The Dalles Dam, fishermen can continue to keep up to 1 adult hatchery steelhead. All salmon have to be released, as do wild steelhead.