Mount Polley gold and copper mine's tailing pond breached on Aug. 4 saw 10 million cubic metres of water and 4.5 million cubic metres of fine sand flow into Polley Lake, with most of the slurry scouring Hazeltine Creek and making its way into Quesnel Lake.
Following water sample testing, a salmon fishing closure was put in place for the Quesnel and Cariboo rivers.
Based on the recent water quality testing results provided by the British Columbia Ministry of the Environment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada rescinded the salmon fishing closure on the Quesnel and Cariboo rivers and reopened those fisheries.
Quesnel River
The Quesnel River, downstream of Poquette Creek, will be open until Sept. 1.
Fishers may retain one chinook per day with a fork length less than 77 centimetres. However, they may not retain chinook with a fork length greater than 77 cm.
The minimum fork length for chinook in non-tidal waters is 30 cm.
Gear notice
Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal waters of B.C.
Recovery program
Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and coho salmon.
Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for coast-wide stock assessment. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at 866-483-9994 for further information.
Report violations
Folks who witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation are asked to call the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line at 800-465-4336.
More information
For the 24-hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 1-866-431-FISH (3474).