WSR 15-19-012 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-312—Filed September 2, 2015, 6:40 p.m., effective September 2, 2015, 6:40 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amend authorized work times for suction dredging in the gold and fish rules for mineral prospecting and placer mining.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-660-30000C; and amending WAC 220-660-300.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: A lack of snowpack from an unusually warm winter has resulted in drought conditions throughout much of Washington. A healthy snowpack slowly provides water to rivers and streams, helping to sustain fish through the drier summer months. But, with little or no snowpack, flows in many rivers have dropped significantly and water temperatures have increased – conditions that are lethal to fish. In response, the Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW) has placed drought-related fishing closures and restrictions on over sixty rivers and streams.
Low water and higher than normal water temperatures are limiting fish movement and making them more susceptible to diseases. In addition, stream flows have fallen low enough to concentrate fish into small areas of refugia where they are highly susceptible to additional stress from disturbance caused by suction dredging. To protect fish life, WDFW is aligning the authorized work times for suction dredging in the gold and fish rules for mineral prospecting and placer mining with drought-related fishing closures or restrictions now in effect. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules. As water temperatures and streamflows improve due to changing weather patterns, emergency rule changes for mineral prospecting will be modified to return to permanent rule requirements.
Per permanent rule, work in the wetted perimeter or frequent scour zone is authorized from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. The daily closures from 2 p.m. to one-half hour after sunset are intended to reduce additional stress to fish from suction dredging during periods of the day when fish are stressed from elevated temperatures. In addition, some streams are closed to suction dredging because of record low flows due to lack of winter snowpack and rainfall. Stream flows have fallen low enough to concentrate fish into small areas of refugia where they are highly susceptible to additional stress from disturbance at these temperatures [which] further reduces survival.
Many of the restrictions placed on various streams under previous emergency rules are repealed in this emergency rule. Lower air temperatures and recent rainfall have resulted in stream flows and water temperatures similar to average fall conditions. Those conditions are not expected to change considerably for the remaining times dredging is authorized under the permanent rules.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: September 2, 2015.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-660-30000D Mineral prospecting
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-660-300, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to violate the following provisions, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
Asotin County
Asotin Creek and tributaries from mouth to headwaters: Closed to suction dredging.
Chelan County
Wenatchee River from mouth to the Icicle River Road Bridge: Closed to suction dredging.
Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam: Closed to suction dredging.
Peshastin Creek and all tributaries: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Columbia County
Tucannon River (Columbia/Garfield Co.) From Highway 12 Bridge to Cow Camp Bridge: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Touchet River (Columbia/Walla Walla Co.) from mouth to the confluence of the North and South forks: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
(1) North Fork Touchet River from mouth to Spangler Creek: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
(2) North Fork Touchet River upstream from the confluence of Spangler Creek: Closed to suction dredging.
(3) South Fork Touchet River from mouth to Griffen Fork and above Griffen Fork: Closed to suction dredging.
(4) Wolf Fork Touchet River from mouth to Coates Creek and Robinson Fork: Closed to suction dredging.
Ferry County
Kettle River and all tributaries from Barstow Bridge to headwaters, all portions contained within the United States: Closed to suction dredging.
Garfield County
Tucannon River (Columbia/Garfield Co.) From Highway 12 Bridge to Cow Camp Bridge: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Grays Harbor County
Black River (Grays Harbor and Thurston Counties) from the mouth upstream to Black Lake: Closed to suction dredging.
Jefferson County
Queets River and its tributaries including Matheny Creek outside Olympic National Park and the Quinault Reservation: Closed to suction dredging.
King County
Raging River from the mouth upstream: Closed to suction dredging.
Snoqualmie River from the mouth upstream to Snoqualmie Falls: Effective September 1, 2015, closed to suction dredging from 2 PM to on-half hour after official sunset.
South Fork Skykomish River (Snohomish/King Co.) from Sunset Falls upstream and all tributaries, including the Beckler, Foss, Miller and Rapid Rivers and their tributaries: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Kittitas County
Little Naches River: Closed to suction dredging.
Teanaway River, including West, Middle and North Forks: Closed to suction dredging.
Swauk Creek and all tributaries downstream from the confluence of Williams Creek: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to until one-half hour after official sunset.
Williams Creek and all tributaries and Swauk Creek and all tributaries upstream from the confluence of Williams Creek: Closed to suction dredging.
Lewis County
Newaukum River and all tributaries: Closed to suction dredging.
Lincoln County
Spokane River (Spokane/Lincoln Co.) from upstream Boundary at Plese Flats Day Use Area to Idaho State Boundary: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Okanogan County
Methow River from County Road 1535 Bridge (lower Burma Rd.) upstream to Weeman Bridge (8 miles upstream of Winthrop): Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Okanogan River from the Hwy 97 Bridge immediately upstream of the mouth to Zosel Dam: Closed to suction dredging.
Similkameen River from the mouth upstream to Enloe Dam: Closed to suction dredging.
Pend Oreille County
Sullivan Creek and all tributaries from mouth to headwaters: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Spokane River tributaries, including Little Spokane River and tributaries (Spokane/Pend Oreille/Stevens Co.) from State Route 25 Bridge upstream to Monroe Street Dam: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Skagit County
Sauk River (Skagit/Snohomish Co.) From the confluence with the Suiattle River upstream including North Fork from mouth to North Fork Falls and South Fork from mouth to Elliot Creek: Closed to suction dredging.
Suiattle River Tributaries Buck, Downey and Sulpher Creeks: Closed to suction dredging.
Samish River from I-5 to headwaters and Friday Creek from the mouth upstream: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Stillaguamish River (Skagit/Snohomish Co.) from Marine Drive upstream including the North and South Forks and all tributaries: Closed to suction dredging.
Snohomish County
North Fork Skykomish River from mouth upstream including all tributaries: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
South Fork Skykomish River (Snohomish/King Co.) from Sunset Falls upstream and all tributaries, including the Beckler, Foss, Miller and Rapid Rivers and their tributaries: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Wallace River from the mouth upstream including all tributaries: Closed to suction dredging.
Sauk River (Skagit/Snohomish Co.) From the confluence with the Suiattle River upstream including North Fork from mouth to North Fork Falls and South Fork from mouth to Elliot Creek: Closed to suction dredging.
Spokane County
Spokane River (Spokane/Lincoln Co.) from upstream Boundary at Plese Flats Day Use Area to Idaho State Boundary: Closed daily to suction dredging 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Spokane River tributaries, including Little Spokane River and tributaries (Spokane/Pend Oreille/Stevens Co.) from State Route 25 Bridge upstream to Monroe Street Dam: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Stevens County
Spokane River tributaries, including Little Spokane River and tributaries (Spokane/Pend Oreille/Stevens Co.) from State Route 25 Bridge upstream to Monroe Street Dam: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Colville River and all tributaries from mouth to headwaters: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Thurston County
Black River (Grays Harbor and Thurston Counties) from the mouth upstream to Black Lake: Closed to suction dredging.
Walla Walla County
Walla Walla River from McDonald Road Bridge to Oregon State Boundary: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Mill Creek from Bennington Dam to State Line: Closed daily to suction dredging from 2 PM to one-half hour after official sunset.
Whatcom County
Middle Fork Nooksack River from the mouth to the City of Bellingham Diversion Dam and all tributaries: Closed to suction dredging.
North Fork Nooksack River from the mouth to Nooksack Falls and all tributaries: Closed to suction dredging.
South Fork Nooksack River from the mouth to Skookum Creek and from Wanlick Creek to headwaters including Wanlick and all tributaries: Closed to suction dredging.
Yakima County
Ahtanum Creek, including North and Middle Forks: Closed to suction dredging.
American River: Closed to suction dredging.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
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