Back at the tail end of June, things were pretty dry in Virginia’s piedmont region. I was down there in July, and saw the low flows with my own eyes. Rivers and creeks weren’t dried up. But low flows and high temperatures are a perfect combination for stressing out coldwater fish. Add in the high volume of anglers that use the Shenandoah National Park and it makes complete sense that they closed fishing down within the park’s borders.
Yet here we are in the middle of August and things are once again open to fishing.
Why write about the closing and opening of one particular fishery? I think it illustrates a few important aspects of resource management:
- Last year’s closure ran September to December. This year’s was late June to early August. While no closures would be better than any closures, it is interesting to note that this one was shorter. And, it was in the hottest part of the year. Despite all the “settled science” we have to acknowledge that there are more variables at play than we truly understand.
- A little break isn’t the worst thing. Farmers do it with their fields. Gamekeepers do it with their beats. Certainly if conditions warrant it, a reprieve is good for the big picture.
- It is actually a good thing that the NPS had to make the decision close the park. Why? It is indicative that there are a lot of people recreating on public land. That is one of the purposes of the park system. The nearby national forests weren’t closed. The state didn’t close trout fisheries. But out of an abundance of caution, the Department of the Interior oversaw the protection of a well-loved resource.
Check out the press release below:
Date: August 12, 2024
Luray, VA – Effective immediately, Shenandoah National Park officials have lifted a parkwide fishing closure. Extremely dry conditions and low stream flows prompted the ban on June 27.
Recent rainfall has improved conditions resulting in lifting the fishing ban. Weather data varied between 4 and 8 inches of precipitation throughout the Park since August 8. However, Evan Childress, Chief of Natural and Cultural Resources, added, “Be gentle with the fish and the fragile environment they inhabit. The drought this summer created stressful conditions for them, so try to minimize the time they are out of the water before you release them.”
Keep track of all National Park Service news, including fish and fishing-relating information, here.