PORT ANGELES – Olympic National Park has issued an emergency shutdown of fishing on several west Olympic Peninsula rivers.

ONP officials say to protect salmon populations in the Quillayute River system, the Quillayute, Dickey, Bogachiel, South Fork Calawah, Sol Duc, and North Fork Sol Duc Rivers and their tributaries within ONP are now closed. The rule change to close the entire Quillayute River system is based on existing low-water conditions coupled with salmon returns that appear to be well below the preseason forecast.

The closure of park waters is consistent with existing closures of commercial gill-net and sport fisheries throughout Quillayute River system. All mountain lakes in the park remain open to recreational fishing.