Action: Closes steelhead fishing.

Effective date: Jan. 1 through April 15, 2021.

Species affected: Steelhead.

Location: Interstate-182 Bridge (Richland) upstream to the Old Hanford townsite powerline crossing.

Reason for action: This year's return of Ringold Springs Hatchery steelhead is expected to be the lowest return on record over the past 20 years. Returning steelhead will be needed for broodstock to meet the production goal of 180,000 juvenile steelhead scheduled for release in 2022. Under this rule change, steelhead retention will close on January 1 and remain closed through the end of the scheduled fishery, April 15, 2021.

Information contact: Paul Hoffarth, District 4 fish biologist, 509-545-2284.