spectr17
07-18-2002, 02:26 PM
Three rivers closed to fishing in Yellowstone
7/18/02
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - Officials have closed three rivers in Yellowstone National Park to fishing because the water has become too warm.
Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis closed the Madison, Firehole and lower Gibbon rivers this week, blaming thermal runoff and warm temperatures in the park.
Water in the Gibbon River reached 72 degrees on Tuesday while the Madison was at 77 degrees and the Firehole 78. Water above 77 degrees can kill trout, and some dead fish have been found in the Firehole River, officials said.
All other rivers and streams in the park remained open to anglers.
Todd Koel, supervisory fisheries biologist with the National Park Service, said higher temperatures make in harder for fish to survive after being caught and then released back into the water.
"When they're stressed from all this heat, they're just not going to make it," he said.
The rivers will remain closed to fishing until the peak daily temperatures decrease to below 73 degrees for three consecutive days.
Biologists are monitoring other streams in the park.
West Yellowstone outfitter Bob Jacklin applauded the closure.
"We have to do what we can to support that wild trout fishery," he said.
The affected streams do not attract a lot of anglers at this time of year anyway, he said.
But fishing is a major attraction for many park visitors.
Park spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews said about 70,000 park visitors bought or received free fishing permits in 1998, the latest year for which figures were available. Park fishing permits are required for all anglers over the age of 11.
7/18/02
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - Officials have closed three rivers in Yellowstone National Park to fishing because the water has become too warm.
Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis closed the Madison, Firehole and lower Gibbon rivers this week, blaming thermal runoff and warm temperatures in the park.
Water in the Gibbon River reached 72 degrees on Tuesday while the Madison was at 77 degrees and the Firehole 78. Water above 77 degrees can kill trout, and some dead fish have been found in the Firehole River, officials said.
All other rivers and streams in the park remained open to anglers.
Todd Koel, supervisory fisheries biologist with the National Park Service, said higher temperatures make in harder for fish to survive after being caught and then released back into the water.
"When they're stressed from all this heat, they're just not going to make it," he said.
The rivers will remain closed to fishing until the peak daily temperatures decrease to below 73 degrees for three consecutive days.
Biologists are monitoring other streams in the park.
West Yellowstone outfitter Bob Jacklin applauded the closure.
"We have to do what we can to support that wild trout fishery," he said.
The affected streams do not attract a lot of anglers at this time of year anyway, he said.
But fishing is a major attraction for many park visitors.
Park spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews said about 70,000 park visitors bought or received free fishing permits in 1998, the latest year for which figures were available. Park fishing permits are required for all anglers over the age of 11.