EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to provide for treaty Indian fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting salmon listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This rule making implements federal court orders governing Washington's relationship with treaty Indian tribes and federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-32-051.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.130, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.
Other Authority: United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546); Puget Sound Gillnetters Ass'n v. Moos, 92 Wn.2d 939, 603 P.2d 819 (1979); State v. James, 72 Wn.2d 746, 435 P.2d 521 (1967); 40 Stat. 515 (Columbia River compact).
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; and that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.
Reasons for this Finding: Sets the first weekly commercial period for spring chinook treaty Indian fisheries. Fisheries are consistent with the 2008-2017 management agreement. Allows sales of fish caught in platform and hook and line fisheries above and below Bonneville Dam. Allows sale of fish caught in Yakama Nation tributary fisheries by Yakama Nation members. Impact limits to ESA-listed chinook are available for treaty Indian fisheries. Rule is consistent with action of the Columbia River compact on April 26, 2010. Conforms state rules with tribal rules.
The Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River and inherent sovereign authority to regulate their fisheries. Washington and Oregon also have some authority to regulate fishing by treaty Indians in the Columbia River, authority that the states exercise jointly under the congressionally ratified Columbia River compact. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). The tribes and the states adopt parallel regulations for treaty Indian fisheries under the supervision of the federal courts. Some salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal ESA.
Columbia River fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure consistency with court orders and ESA guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. As required by court order, the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and invite tribal participation when considering proposals for new emergency rules affecting treaty fishing rights. Sohappy, 302 F. Supp. at 912. WDFW and ODFW then adopt regulations reflecting agreements reached. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, 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 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
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: April 26, 2010.
Lori Preuss
for Philip Anderson
Director
1. Mainstem Columbia River above Bonneville Dam
a) SEASON: 6:00 AM April 27, 2010 through 6:00 PM April 29, 2010
b) AREA: SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H (Zone 6)
c) GEAR: No mesh restriction on gillnets.
2. Mainstem Columbia River above Bonneville Dam
a) SEASON: 6:00 AM April 27, 2010 until further notice.
b) AREA: SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H (Zone 6)
c) GEAR: Hoop nets, dip nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line.
3. Columbia River Tributaries above Bonneville Dam
a) SEASON: 6:00 AM April 27, 2010 until further notice and only during those days and hours when the tributaries listed below are open under lawfully enacted Yakama Nation tribal subsistence fishery regulations for enrolled Yakama Nation members.
b) AREA: Drano Lake, White Salmon, and Klickitat and Wind rivers.
c) GEAR: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line. Gill nets may only be used in Drano Lake (no mesh restriction, 150-foot length restriction).
4. Mainstem Columbia River below Bonneville Dam
a) PARTICIPANTS: Tribal members may participate under the conditions described in the 2007 Memo of Agreement (MOA) with the Yakama Nation (YN), in the 2010 MOU (Memo of Understanding) with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), and the 2010 MOU with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Spring Reservation (CTWS). Tribal members fishing below Bonneville Dam must carry an official tribal enrollment card.
b) SEASON: 6:00 AM April 27, 2010 until further notice, except closed Thursdays through Saturdays for the CTUIR and the CTWS when non-tribal salmon fishing is open in the MOU area.
c) AREA: SMCRA 1E, Yakama Nation MOA: on the Washington shoreline from 600 feet below the fish ladder at the Bonneville Dam North shore powerhouse, downstream to Beacon Rock (bank fishing only). Umatilla and Warm Springs MOU: Covers the banks of the Columbia River bounded by a deadline marker on the Oregon bank approximately four miles downstream of Bonneville Dam Powerhouse #1 in a straight line thorough the western tip of Pierce Island, to a deadline marker on the Washington bank at Beacon Rock up the river to a point 600 feet below the Bonneville Dam, but excluding the following four areas:
1. Between the markers located 150 feet upstream and 450 feet downstream from the mouth of Tanner Creel out to the center of the Columbia river during the period from August 16, 2010, until further notice.
2. Inside the south navigation lock at Bonneville Dam from a marker on the western-most tip of Robins Island to a marker on the Oregon mainland shore.
3. From Bradford Island below Bonneville Dam from the south shore between the dam and a line perpendicular to the shore marker at the west end of riprap and from the north shore between the fishway entrance and a line perpendicular to the shoreline marker 850 feet downstream.
4. From Robins Island below Bonneville Dam downstream to a line perpendicular to the shoreline marker on the mooring cell.
d) GEAR: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line, consistent with tribal regulations.
5. SANCTUARIES: Standard river mouth and dam sanctuaries are applicable to these gear types, except that the Spring Creek Hatchery sanctuary is not in effect.
6. ALLOWABLE SALES: Chinook, coho, sockeye, steelhead, walleye, shad, carp, yellow perch, catfish and bass. Sturgeon may not be sold. Sturgeon between 43-54 inches in fork length in The Dalles and John Day pools (SMCRA 1G, 1H) may be retained for subsistence. Sturgeon between 38-54 inches in fork length in the Bonneville pool (SMCRA 1F) may also be retained for subsistence. Fish may NOT be sold on USACE Property below Bonneville Dam, but may be caught and transported off USACE Property for sale. Sturgeon below Bonneville Dam may NOT be retained and may NOT be sold.
7. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS: 24-hour quick reporting required for Washington wholesale dealers, pursuant to WAC 220-69-240.
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Reviser's note: The unnecessary underscoring 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.
Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.