DEPLETED NORTH OLYMPIC Peninsula rivers and streams will welcome whatever rainfall they can receive as the weather forecast shifts to more of the traditional wet stuff.
River rocks exposed to near summertime levels, salmon spooked and not even taking half-hearted chomps at anglers’ presentations, something’s got to give.
So root for rain, rain to prime the pump for fish passage and recharge the rivers and soften the ground for the last full weekend of modern firearm black-tail deer season.
Dungeness needs water
The water levels in the Dungeness River are close to reaching an 88-year low for this time of the year with the United State Geological Survey’s river flow charts telling a dire tale.
Sequim angler Dave Croonquist passed along a couple of readings he saw Wednesday.
“The water level is way down,” Croonquist said. “The river is running 77 cubic feet per second above the hatchery and 71 CFS down by the Anderson Road bridge [closer to the river’s mouth]. We need rain.”
A Thursday afternoon check showed a steady 77 CFS above the Dungeness Hatchery, just above the low of 72 set back on Oct. 25, 1988.
Mean averages for this time of year should be in the 276 CFS-area and climbing for the Dungeness.
With so little water available, returning fall hatchery coho are not taking the plunge to enter and move upriver to spawn in the numbers fishery co-managers with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe would like.
Accordingly, the popular recreational fishery on the Dungeness River has been shuttered until coho abundance improves.
Starting today, the Dungeness is closed to fishing from the mouth to the Gray Wolf River at the Dungeness Forks Campground.
Fish and Wildlife said the number of coho that have returned to the Dungeness River is below pre-season expectations. To help ensure escapement needs are met, the river will close to angling until further notice.
Fishery co-managers will continue to monitor escapement. Once there is greater certainty that broodstock needs and spawning objectives will be met, the fishery will be re-opened.
Take the kids
Those who had plans to take kids ages 14 and younger fishing on the Dungeness, do have an option in Sequim.
“We just planted another 500 catchable size trout and some jumbos at the Carrie Blake Water Reuse Reclamation Pond,” Sherry Anderson of the North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers said.
Normally, the club hosts its annual Kid’s Fishing Day at the pond in May, but hot weather and warm water temperatures conspired to cancel this year’s event.
The Anglers had already paid to feed the trout that are raised at Fish and Wildlife’s Hurd Creek Hatchery this year, so club members made the decision to plant the fish in the fall after temperatures had dipped for the year.
Weekly plants
“The plan is do plantings about weekly until the 2018 fish are all planted,” Anderson said. “Catching has been good with a bobber, a small hook and bait, worms, powerbait or a small marshmallow.”
The rules for fishing are posted at the pond. Kids 14 years and younger do not need a fishing license.
There is a two-fish limit for each child, and there is no catch-and-release permitted. Keep the fish you catch.
Lake Leland toxin
Jefferson County Public Health detected high levels of the toxin microcystin in a water sample taken at Lake Leland on Oct. 16.
The toxin level is 13 micrograms per liter, which is above the state recreational criteria of six micrograms per liter.
The bloom of bluegreen algae (also known as cyanobacteria) in the lake contains several toxin-producing species of algae, including Aphanizomenon.
Microcystin is a liver toxin that can result in illness and death in people and animals.
Signs of microcystin poisoning include abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting in humans and death in animals.
It may be hours or days before signs of liver poisoning appear.
Warning signs have been posted at the public boat ramp and fishing pier advising the public not to drink lake water, not to swim in the lake, to keep pets and livestock away from the water, avoid contact with algae scum and clean fish well and discard all guts.
Jefferson County Public Health has monitored county lakes cyanobacteria since 2007. Lake Leland has had these bluegreen algae blooms before, but this is the first time in a decade that toxin levels have exceeded the state’s criteria.
If you fish the lake, check for spots that are free of algae blooms — but toxins can be present even when the bloom is not visible.
The state Department of Health advises limiting consumption to no more than two eight-ounce filets per week from lakes with microcystin concentrations.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
