LURAY, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Thanks to Debby, effective immediately, Shenandoah National Park officials have lifted a parkwide fishing closure. A park release says extremely dry conditions and low stream flows prompted the ban June 27. Recent rainfall has improved conditions resulting in lifting the fishing ban. Weather data varied between 4 and 8 inches of precipitation throughout the Park since August 8.
However, Evan Childress, Chief of Natural and Cultural Resources, added, “Be gentle with the fish and the fragile environment they inhabit. The drought this summer created stressful conditions for them, so try to minimize the time they are out of the water before you release them.”