EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: August 1, 2011.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to allow nontreaty recreational fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting fish listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This rule making implements federal court orders governing Washington's relationship with treaty Indian tribes, federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon, and Washington fish and wildlife commission policy guidance for Columbia River fisheries.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-619.
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); Northwest Gillnetters Ass'n v. Sandison, 95 Wn.2d 638, 628 P.2d 800 (1981); Washington fish and wildlife commission policies concerning Columbia River fisheries; 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.
Reasons for this Finding: The department is in the process of adopting permanent rules that are necessary to implement the personal use fishing plans that were agreed upon with resource comanagers at the North of Falcon proceedings. These emergency rules are necessary to comply with agreed-upon management plans, and are interim until permanent rules take effect.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 29, 2011.
Joe Stohr
for Philip Anderson
Director
(1) Salmon and steelhead - It is permissible to use barbed hooks unless otherwise restricted. Anglers may not possess in the field salmon or steelhead mutilated so that size, species, or fin clip cannot be determined until the angler has reached their automobile or principle means of land transportation.
(a) From a true north-south line through Buoy 10, upstream to a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through Red Buoy 44 to the navigation light at Tongue Point on the Oregon bank: Salmon and steelhead: August 1 through August 28, daily limit, 2 salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or one of each; only 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon except Chinook and hatchery coho. Chinook minimum length 24 inches. Coho minimum length 16 inches. August 29 through September 30, daily limit 2 hatchery coho or 2 hatchery steelhead or one of each. Release all salmon other than hatchery coho. Coho minimum length 16 inches. October 1 until further notice, daily limit, 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult salmon or hatchery steelhead, or one of each. Release all salmon except Chinook and hatchery coho.
(b) From a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through Red Buoy 44 to the navigation light at Tongue Point on the Oregon bank, upstream to the I-5 Bridge: Salmon and steelhead: August 1 through September 9, daily limit, 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult salmon or hatchery steelhead or one of each; of the adult salmon, only 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon except Chinook and hatchery coho. September 10 until further notice, daily limit, 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult salmon or hatchery steelhead or one of each. Release all salmon except Chinook and hatchery coho, and September 10 through September 30 release Chinook downstream of a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse, through Red Buoy #4, to the orange marker atop the dolphin on the Washington shore.
(c) From the I-5 Bridge to Bonneville Dam: Salmon and steelhead: August 1 through September 9, daily limit, 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult salmon or hatchery steelhead or one of each; of the adult salmon, only 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon except Chinook and hatchery coho. September 10 until further notice, daily limit, 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult salmon or hatchery steelhead or one of each. Release all salmon except Chinook and hatchery coho.
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