A key public meeting for setting salmon seasons and regulations on the Columbia River and across Western Washington has been postponed.
The North of Falcon process, previously set for Tuesday, has been rescheduled for March 21 from 1 to 5 p.m.
The public can attend the meeting at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ridgefield office at 5525 S. 11th St. The meeting will also be accessible via Microsoft Teams and teleconference.
The WDFW unveiled forecasts earlier this month for fall salmon returns to Puget Sound, the Washington coast, and the Columbia River.
The forecasts are a result of the state and tribal leaders working together to analyze data and produce the projections, ahead of the North of Falcon process. That process will eventually produce fisheries seasons and set the regulations for Puget Sound, ocean fisheries, and terminal fisheries in the Columbia River and its tributaries.
Expected returns of fall salmon should be very similar to last year’s actual returns, and although most stocks are doing well and improving, the lower Columbia River tule Chinook will once again under perform, and likely restrain fisheries at Buoy 10.
