The Quinault River, and many others in Olympic National Park, closed Thursday to recreational fishing due to drought conditions/NPS file

Ongoing drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest have prompted a closure of recreational fishing across much of Olympic National Park in Washington state.

The following river systems within the park closed Thursday to recreational fishing until further notice: Ozette, Bogachiel, South Fork Calawah, Sol Duc, North Fork Sol Duc, Dickey, Quillayute, Hoh, South Fork Hoh, Queets, Salmon, and Quinault rivers (including East Fork, North Fork, Main Stem). Additionally, Cedar, Goodman, Kalaloch, and Mosquito creeks within the park also closed.

"This year’s severe drought conditions have reduced river flows to at or near historic low levels," a park release said. "This emergency closure is designed to protect fish in areas where severe conditions have reduced river flows to historical low levels. Low water conditions may impede upstream spawning migrations and also increase the vulnerability of salmonids to angling as fish concentrate in smaller and smaller pools.

"The broad application of this closure is necessary to address angling pressure during these extreme low-flow conditions to better protect Pacific salmon, steelhead trout, and federally threatened bull trout in the park’s rivers and creeks. This closure is consistent with our cooperative managers."