Emergency Closures

Emergency Steelhead River Closures

by Ed Hood February 06, 2014

Today, the California Department of Fish and Game took emergency actions to help protect steelhead by extending and enforcing low-flow closures to many streams and rivers that are not usually subject to them. Before going out steelhead fishing, make sure you familiarize yourself with these special regulations by following this link:

http://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/fish-and-game-commission-adopts-emergency-regulations-to-close-angling/

Here are the phone numbers that you will need to call if you will be fishing any of these coastal streams to make sure they are open and the rivers that each district is responsible for:

SOUTH CENTRAL COAST – (831) 649-2886 (Assume all are closed currently)

Pescadero Creek and all anadromous reaches of San Mateo County coastal streams normally open for fishing, from Elliot Creek through Milagro Creek.
The San Lorenzo River and all its tributaries, as well as all anadromous reaches of coastal streams normally open for fishing in Santa Cruz County from the San Lorenzo River on North through Waddell Creek.
Aptos and Soquel Creeks (Santa Cruz County).
The Pajaro River and Uvas, Llagas and Corralitos Creeks (Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara counties).
The Carmel River and those sections of San Jose, Gibson, Malpaso and Soberanes creeks west of Highway 1.
The Big Sur River and those Big Sur area streams from Granite Creek to Salmon Creek west of Highway 1.
The main stem of the Salinas River below its confluence with the Arroyo Seco River and the Arroyo Seco River (Monterey County).

CENTRAL COAST – (707) 944-5533 (Assume all are closed currently)

Sonoma Creek (Sonoma County), and all streams tributary to the Pacific Ocean (and its bay) in Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties, except the Russian River.
Napa River (Napa County) between Trancas Avenue in Napa and Oakville Cross Bridge near Yountville.

NORTH COAST – (707) 822-3164

The main stem Eel River from the paved junction of Fulmor Road with the Eel River to the South Fork Eel River.
The South Fork of the Eel River downstream from Rattlesnake Creek and the Middle Fork Eel River downstream from the Bar Creek.
The main stem Van Duzen River from its junction with the Eel River to the end of Golden Gate Drive near Bridgeville.
The main stem Mad River from the Hammond Trail Railroad Trestle to Cowan Creek.
The main stem of the Mattole River from the mouth to Honeydew Creek.
The main stem of Redwood Creek from the mouth to its confluence with Bond Creek.
The main stem Smith River from the mouth of Rowdy Creek to the mouth of Patrick Creek (tributary of the Middle Fork Smith River); the South Fork Smith River from the mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tyron) bridge and Craig’s Creek to its confluence with Jones Creek; and the North Fork Smith River from the mouth to its confluence with Stony Creek.

In addition to the extension of the low-flow regulations to the north coast and the closures of all rivers that fall into the existing low-flow regulations, the American River and the Russian River received special regulations as well. Below are maps that illustrate the closed regions of these two rivers. Click images for larger view of each map.

AMERICAN RIVER

Closure of the American River from Nimbus Dam to the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park until April 30. The river below Ancil Hoffman park remains open.

Courtesy of Google Maps

RUSSIAN RIVER

Closure of the Russian River main stem below the confluence of the East Branch of the Russian River until April 30. Consider the entire Russian River closed currently.