With Washington fisheries already closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon announced Wednesday it would extend its closure of the Columbia River indefinitely.
Washington remains closed to all recreational hunting and fishing through May 4. Those activities have been shut since March 25 after Gov. Jay Inslee instituted sweeping restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Columbia River fisheries are jointly managed by Washington and Oregon. To bring the state in line with Washington, Oregon closed the river’s spring chinook and steelhead seasons on March 26.
The remainder of Oregon’s recreational fisheries remain open, though state officials are watching to see whether anglers adhere to social distancing guidelines.
