Shenandoah National Park, which has 90 streams and minor tributaries feeding into the large Shenandoah, Rappahannock and James rivers, currently has extremely low stream flows throughout the park, including some river sections that are completely dry.

The national park announced all of its streams and rivers are closed to fishing as a result. “Despite some rain on Wednesday, June 26, river flows remain low and are expected to continue dropping with continued hot, dry weather.”

There has also been noticeably hotter weather in the Bay region so far this summer, which has driven water temperatures higher. According to Climate Central, June 2024 was the fifth hottest June in Baltimore going all the way back to 1871.

Low water flows and high temperatures create stressful conditions for fish, Shenandoah National Park says. Fishing during these conditions could harm native brook trout populations, which are already low across the park.

The fishing closure applies to all streams within park boundaries, both catch-and-release waters and those open to harvest. A closure like this is rare, but not unheard of. Fishing was closed during drought conditions in both 2021 and 2023. Shenandoah National Park says stream flows are expected to remain low until “significant precipitation” falls across the area.