August 20, 2007

Action: Close the Yakima River to all fishing within 400 feet of the Chandler Power Plant.

Effective date: Sept. 1 through Oct. 22, 2007

Species affected: All Fish Species

Location: Within 400 feet of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Chandler Power Plant water outflow (near Benton City, WA). Closed waters extend from the power line crossing the river upstream of the powerhouse downstream to the markers on both banks 200 feet below the spillway chute outfall.

Reason for action: Low numbers of fall chinook are expected to return to the Yakima River in 2007. Fall chinook are attracted to the discharge at the Chandler Powerhouse, allowing anglers to harvest a higher proportion of the return than allocated for the fishery. In addition, this is a known location for illegal snagging despite a non-buoyant lure restriction/night closure by permanent rule during the lower Yakima R. fall salmon season.

Other information: The anticipated fall chinook return to the Yakima River this year is less than 2,500 fish. Harvest at the Chandler Powerhouse accounted for over 60% of the chinook harvested in 2006, although the effected powerhouse area is less than 0.2% of the total area open to angling downstream of Prosser Dam. An identical emergency closure was enacted from October 7-22, 2006 to belatedly reduce harvest and illegal snagging. WDFW staff has proposed a permanent closure of this 400-foot area during the fall salmon fishery as part of the 2007 "major cycle" fishing rule adoption process.

Information contact: Paul Hoffarth, District 4 Fish Biologist, (509) 545-2284 (Pasco) or John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager, (509) 457-9330 (Yakima)

I'm not liking the forcasted numbers.

I am liking the rule that was placed into effect however. Hopefully we will see an increase in numbers due to the changes being inforced.

We are quite fortunate that they are even going to open up a season at all. We all need to do our part in watching out for individuals who are breaking the law. Fish and Game will come out if you report an infraction to them.

I spoke to Fish and Game and they also mentioned they had a really bad littering problem down on the banks. Please everyone do there part to pack it in pack it out.

I know my boys and I, as well as my friends will spend 15-20 minutes picking up the shore line of debri. Lure packages, old line, night crawler containers etc......

If we don't take care of it and leave it for somebody else, their just going to take it away from us again.

RAE