(Palmer) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is expanding the area open to sport fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, May 1 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024. The expanded area will include all waters from the Eklutna Tailrace confluence with the Knik River, downstream to the upstream edge of the Alaska Railroad bridge. Access to the expanded area is by boat only.

Sport fisheries of the Susitna, West Cook Inlet, and Little Susitna rivers have been closed to fishing for king salmon through separate emergency orders in anticipation of run sizes less than experienced in 2023 when all area escapement goals were missed. In addition to these management actions to the sport fishery, the Northern District commercial king salmon fishery will also be closed. The Tyonek subsistence fishery is restricted to two periods per week through a separate emergency order. These actions share the burden of conservation across all user groups while recognizing a subsistence priority.

Given the severity of the Cook Inlet king salmon fishing restrictions in 2024 and potential public safety issues due to high fishing effort within the small area of the existing Eklutna Tailrace fishery, an expansion into the Knik River waters to allow targeting of Eklutna Tailrace king salmon in this terminal fishery is warranted.

For additional information, please contact Acting Area Management Biologist Samantha Oslund in Palmer at (907) 746-6300.

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