(Juneau) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced today that a portion of Peterson Creek, north of Juneau, is closed to sport fishing for all species. Specific restrictions are as follows:

• The waters of Peterson Creek, including Peterson Lagoon, from the intertidal waters within a 200-yard radius of the creek mouth at saltwater to the falls approximately 1.5 miles upstream are CLOSED to sport fishing from April 1 - June 30, 2024 to protect spawning steelhead.

Based on snorkel survey expansions, in years when concurrent weir counts were available, overall production of steelhead in Peterson Creek has declined in recent years. For the last 9 years (2015–2023), snorkel survey index counts conducted each spring have been below the 1997–2014 average of 28 (equivalent to about 116 fish), when steelhead abundance in the creek appeared to be relatively stable. In 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 the snorkel survey counts were 6, 3, 11, 24, 18, and 27 fish, respectively. A conservative approach is necessary to manage the Peterson Creek steelhead stock during this period of very low escapements.

For more information, please call the Division of Sport Fish Region 1 office in Douglas at 465- 4270.

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