Effective Date of Rule: March 21, 2013, 7:00 p.m.

     Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to allow nontreaty commercial fishing opportunities in the Columbia River while protecting fish 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, 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: Repealing WAC 220-33-01000W; and amending WAC 220-33-010.

     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: Provides two additional fishing periods during the winter season in the Deep River and Blind Slough area. The spring season remains in place without change. Impacts to nonlocal stocks have been less than expected, which allows for additional opportunity to harvest hatchery stocks. The fishery is consistent with the U.S. v Oregon Management Agreement and the associated biological opinion. Conforms Washington state rules with Oregon state rules. Regulation is consistent with compact action of January 30 and March 21, 2013. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent rules.

     Washington and Oregon jointly regulate Columbia River fisheries under the congressionally ratified Columbia River compact. Four Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River. The treaties preempt state regulations that fail to allow the tribes an opportunity to take a fair share of the available fish, and the states must manage other fisheries accordingly. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). A federal court order sets the current parameters for sharing between treaty Indians and others. 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).

     Some Columbia River Basin salmon and steelhead stocks are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal ESA. On May 5, 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a biological opinion under 16 U.S.C. § 1536 that allows for some incidental take of these species in treaty and nontreaty Columbia River fisheries governed by the 2008-2017 U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement. The Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife commissions have developed policies to guide the implementation of such biological opinions in the states' regulation of nontreaty fisheries.

     Columbia River nontreaty fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure compliance with federal court orders, the ESA, and commission guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. Representatives from the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and take public testimony when considering proposals for new emergency rules. WDFW and ODFW then adopt regulations reflecting agreements reached.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1; 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: March 21, 2013.

Philip Anderson

Director

     1. Deep River Select Area

     a) Dates: Winter Season: Open hours are 7 PM to 7 AM Monday and Thursday nights immediately through April 2, 2013. Spring Season: Open hours are 7 PM to 7 AM Thursday night, April 18; Tuesday night, April 23; and each Monday and Thursday night from April 25 through June 14, 2013.

     b) Area: From the markers at USCG navigation marker #16, upstream to the Highway 4 Bridge.

     c) Gear: Gillnets. Winter season: 7-inch minimum mesh. Spring season: 9 3/4-inch maximum mesh. Nets are restricted to 100 fathoms in length with no weight restriction on leadline. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed. Nets cannot be tied off to stationary structures. Nets may not fully cross navigation channel. It is unlawful to operate in any river, stream or channel any gillnet longer than three-fourths the width of the stream (WAC 220-20-015)(1)). It is unlawful in any area to use, operate, or carry aboard a commercial fishing vessel a licensed net or combination of such nets, whether fished singly or separately, in excess of the maximum lawful size or length prescribed for a single net in that area, except as otherwise provided for in the rules and regulations of the department (WAC 220-20-122(1)). Nets not specifically authorized for use in these areas may be onboard a vessel if properly stored (WAC 220-33-001)(2)). Nets that are fished at any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net unless the net is attached to the boat. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the opposite end of the net from the boat is required.

     d) Allowable Possession: Salmon, shad, and white sturgeon. The sturgeon landing limit is four fish in the winter season and two fish in the spring season. The sturgeon landing limit acts to limit the number of white sturgeon possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that the fishery is open.

     e) Miscellaneous: Transportation or possession of fish outside the fishing area (except to the sampling station) is unlawful until WDFW staff has biologically sampled individual catches. After sampling, fishers will be issued a transportation permit by WDFW staff. During the winter season, fishers are required to call 360-795-0319 to confirm the place and time of sampling. In the spring season, a sampling station will be established at WDFW's Oneida Road boat ramp, about 0.5 miles upstream of the lower Deep River area boundary (USCG navigation marker #16).

     f) 24-hour quick reporting is in effect for Washington buyers. (WAC 220-69-240) (14)(d)).

     2. Tongue Point/South Channel

     a) Dates: Monday and Thursday nights from April 25 through June 14, 2013. Open hours are 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

     b) Area: Tongue Point fishing area includes all waters bounded by a line extended from the upstream (southern most) pier (#1) at the Tongue Point Job Corps facility, through navigation marker #6 to Mott Island (new spring lower deadline); a line from a marker at the southeast end of Mott Island, northeasterly to a marker on the northwest tip of Lois Island; and a line from a marker on the southwest end of Lois Island, westerly to a marker on the Oregon shore.

     The South Channel area includes all waters bounded by a line from a marker on John Day Point through the green USCG buoy #7 to a marker on the southwest end of Lois Island, upstream to an upper boundary line from a marker on Settler Point, northwesterly to the flashing red USCG marker #10, and northwesterly to a marker on Burnside Island defining the upstream terminus of South Channel.

     c) Gear: Gillnets. 9 3/4-inch maximum mesh. In the Tongue Point fishing area, gear restricted to a maximum net length of 250 fathoms, and weight not to exceed two pounds on any one fathom. In the South Channel fishing area, gear restricted to a maximum net length of 100 fathoms, no weight restriction on leadline, and use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed.

     Nets not specifically authorized for use in these areas may be onboard a vessel if properly stored (WAC 220-33-001)(2)). Nets that are fished at any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net unless the net is attached to the boat. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the opposite end of the net from the boat is required.

     d) Allowable Possession: Salmon, shad, and white sturgeon. The sturgeon landing limit is two fish. The sturgeon landing limit acts to limit the number of white sturgeon possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that the fishery is open.

     e) Miscellaneous: Fishers are required to call 971-230-8247 and leave a message including name, catch, and where and when fish will be sold. Permanent transportation rules in effect.

     f) 24-hour quick reporting is in effect for Washington buyers. (WAC 220-69-240) (14)(d)).

     3. Blind Slough/Knappa Slough Select Area

     a) Area: Winter season: Blind Slough open. Spring season: Blind Slough and Knappa Slough areas are both open. From May 2 until further notice, the lower boundary of the Knappa Slough fishing area is extended downstream to boundary lines defined by markers on the west end of Minaker Island to markers on Karlson Island and the Oregon Shore (fall season boundary).

     b) Dates: Winter Season: Monday and Thursday nights immediately through April 2, 2013. Open hours are 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

     Spring Season: Thursday night, April 18; Tuesday night, April 23; and Monday and Thursday nights from April 25 through June 14, 2013. Open hours are 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

     c) Gear: Gillnets. Winter season: 7-inch minimum mesh. Spring Season: 9 3/4-inch maximum mesh. Nets are restricted to 100 fathoms in length, with no weight restriction on leadline. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed.

     Nets not specifically authorized for use in these areas may be onboard a vessel if properly stored (WAC 220-33-001(2)). Nets that are fished at any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net unless the net is attached to the boat. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the opposite end of the net from the boat is required.

     d) Allowable Possession: Salmon, shad, and white sturgeon. The sturgeon landing limit is four fish in the winter season and two fish in spring season. The sturgeon landing limit acts to limit the number of white sturgeon possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that the fishery is open.

     e) 24-hour quick reporting is in effect for Washington buyers (WAC 220-69-240) (14)(d)). Permanent transportation rules in effect.

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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.
REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 7:00 p.m. March 21, 2013:

WAC 220-33-01000W

Columbia River seasons below Bonneville. (13-23)