EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: May 14, 2011.
Purpose: Amend personal use fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 232-28-61900S; and amending WAC 232-28-619.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020.
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: Based on current chinook run estimate and projected harvest numbers and catch rates being observed, the allowable catch of salmon for the Snake River in Washington will be reached sooner than initially identified. Because the wild portion of the run is protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), fisheries must be managed to remain within the guidelines of the ESA. There is insufficient time to adopt 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: May 12, 2011.
Philip Anderson
Director
(1) Effective May 14, 2011, until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for and possess salmon in waters of the Snake River from the South Bound Highway 12 Bridge at Pasco, upstream about 7 miles to the fishing restriction boundary approximately 400 ft. below Ice Harbor Dam.
(2) Effective immediately through May 15, 2011, a person may fish for and possess salmon in the following waters of the Snake River:
(a) From the Railroad Bridge about 0.5 miles downstream of the Tucannon River mouth, up about 9 miles to the Army Corps of Engineers boat launch (approximately 1 mile upstream of Little Goose Dam along the south shore). This zone includes the area between the juvenile bypass return pipe and Little Goose Dam along the south shoreline of the facility (includes the walkway area locally known as "the wall" in front of the juvenile collection facility).
(b) From the intersection of Steptoe Canyon Road with Hwy 193 (Snake River Road) in Whitman County, upriver about 12 miles to the Idaho state line that runs from the north termination of the rock levee on the east side of the Greenbelt boat launch (near the US Army Corps of Engineers Office) northwest across the Snake River to the Idaho/Washington marker on the north shore in Whitman County.
(i) Daily limit of two adult hatchery Chinook and four jack Chinook salmon. Minimum size for Chinook is 12 inches in length.
(ii) However, when fishing along the "wall" and walkway area upstream of the juvenile fish bypass return pipe below Little Goose Dam, the daily limit is one adult hatchery Chinook and one jack salmon. May continue to fish until the daily adult limit is retained. Minimum size for Chinook is 12 inches in length.
(iii) All Chinook with the adipose fin intact, and all steelhead, must be released immediately, unharmed.
(iv) Hooks must be barbless when fishing for all species, and only single barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for sturgeon.
(v) It is unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8-inch (point of hook to shank) for all species except sturgeon.
(vi) Night closure is in effect for salmon and sturgeon.
(vii) For areas open for Chinook, anglers must cease fishing for salmon for the day when they retain the adult daily limit.
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The following section of the Washington Administrative
code is repealed effective May 14, 2011:
| WAC 232-28-61900S | Exceptions to statewide rules -- Snake River. (11-57) |