The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is opening its annual public input process for the 2026–2027 state‑managed salmon seasons, a months‑long series of meetings and comment opportunities that help determine how salmon fisheries will operate across Washington. The announcement was first noted in reporting by The Reflector, and confirmed in a Feb. 11, 2026 WDFW news release.

According to the official WDFW announcement, the process begins Feb. 27 with a hybrid statewide salmon forecast meeting in Olympia, scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Office Building 2 Auditorium, 1115 Washington Street S.E. The agency states that the meeting will also be accessible via Zoom with advance registration. WDFW says this is the first of more than a dozen meetings planned between late February and April as part of the North of Falcon process, the state’s annual negotiation and planning framework for salmon fisheries north of Oregon’s Cape Falcon. ([wdfw.wa.gov](https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/wdfw-invites-public-participation-annual-salmon-season-setting-process-3?utm_source=openai))

The North of Falcon schedule posted on the agency’s website includes additional hybrid and in‑person meetings through March, covering regional discussions for Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, the North Coast, the Upper Columbia River, Puget Sound freshwater and marine fisheries, and the first full North of Falcon planning session on March 18. An updated list of upcoming meetings is available via the WDFW’s North of Falcon page at WDFW North of Falcon. ([wdfw.wa.gov](https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falcon?utm_source=openai))

WDFW emphasizes that public input is incorporated throughout the process, including online comment portals and virtual briefings during the final days of negotiations at the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), which will consider ocean salmon fishery options between March 4 and March 9 and adopt final regulations between April 7 and April 12. The agency’s detailed 2026 meeting timeline, which includes forecast development, co‑manager negotiations with tribal governments, and regulation adoption, can be found in WDFW’s 2026 public meeting schedule at WDFW Public Meetings. ([wdfw.wa.gov](https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falcon/public-meetings?utm_source=openai))

WDFW states that input from recreational and commercial anglers, tribal co‑managers, and regional communities directly informs season planning. Salmon population health, habitat degradation, climate pressures, and hatchery production needs all factor into final decisions, according to agency and tribal officials. ([wdfw.wa.gov](https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/wdfw-invites-public-participation-annual-salmon-season-setting-process-3?utm_source=openai))

For those unable to attend specific meetings, WDFW notes that recorded presentations, documents, and summaries will be added to event pages as they become available. The department also provides accessibility accommodations and information in multiple languages. ([wdfw.wa.gov](https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/public-meeting-set-discuss-salmon-and-steelhead-seasons-central-washington?utm_source=openai))

Why this matters for Cowlitz County

Southwest Washington residents rely heavily on predictable salmon seasons for both recreation and regional economic activity. Cowlitz County anglers and businesses are directly affected by how WDFW and tribal co‑managers shape harvest limits, fishing windows, and area‑specific rules. With several Columbia River and tributary discussions scheduled in this year’s cycle, local participation ensures that the county’s on‑the‑ground conditions and community priorities are reflected in the final 2026–2027 regulations.