WSR 15-11-002 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-109—Filed May 6, 2015, 2:43 p.m., effective May 6, 2015, 2:43 p.m.] Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-310-20000F; and amending WAC 220-310-200.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047.
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: Reopens the 2015 spring recreational salmon season in the Columbia River in the area downstream of Bonneville Dam. The season upstream of Bonneville Dam has also been extended for four additional days. The upriver spring chinook return has been updated to two hundred forty-one thousand fish, which means harvestable fish remain on the guidelines for recreational fishing. The regulation continues to adjust the hatchery adult bag limit in Deep River to be consistent with the adjacent Columbia River when both areas are open. The regulation continues to allow for the retention of shad and hatchery steelhead during days and in areas that are open for hatchery chinook. The regulation continues to allow anglers to possess up to four hatchery chinook in fresh form in the geographic area from The Dalles Dam to the Oregon/Washington border when the area is open for hatchery spring chinook. The state will pursue making this regulation a permanent rule during the spring season when the area is open for hatchery chinook retention. The regulation continues to allow only hand-casted lines in the geographic area of Bonneville Pool from the Tower Island powerlines (located approximately six miles below The Dalles Dam) downstream to Bonneville Dam on the Washington shore. The state will pursue making this regulation a permanent rule during the spring season when the area is open for hatchery chinook retention. 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 28, April 8, and May 5, 2015. 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 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 6, 2015.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-310-20000G Exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-310-200, it is unlawful to violate the following provisions, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
(1) Columbia River: Open May 9 and May 16 through June 15, 2015:
(a) Open for fishing for salmonids and shad from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point Line upstream to 600 feet downstream of the fish ladder at the new Bonneville Dam powerhouse (#2), except closed to fishing from boats upstream of Beacon Rock. For the purposes of this section, Beacon Rock is defined as a deadline marker on the Oregon bank, located approximately four miles downstream from Bonneville Dam Powerhouse #1, projecting a straight line through the western tip of Pierce Island to a deadline marker on the Washington bank at Beacon Rock.
(b) Daily salmonid limit is 6 fish (hatchery Chinook or hatchery steelhead), of which no more than 2 may be adults and no more than 1 may be an adult Chinook.
(c) Release all wild Chinook and wild steelhead.
(d) Salmon minimum size is 12 inches.
(2) Columbia River: Open immediately through May 10, 2015:
(a) Open to fishing from the Tower Island power lines in Bonneville Pool (located approximately 6 miles below The Dalles Dam) upstream to the Oregon and Washington border, plus the Washington bank between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island power lines (except for those waters closed under permanent regulations).
(b) Daily salmonid limit is 6 fish (hatchery Chinook or hatchery steelhead), of which no more than 2 may be adults and no more than 1 may be an adult Chinook.
(c) Release all wild Chinook and wild steelhead.
(d) Salmon minimum size is 12 inches.
(3) Columbia River Possession limit: Effective immediately through June 15, 2015, when the Columbia River is open to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook from the Tower Island power lines in Bonneville Pool (located approximately 6 miles below The Dalles Dam) upstream to the Oregon and Washington border, including the Washington bank between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island power lines, from the Dalles Dam upstream: Anglers may possess 2 daily limits in fresh form (special rule) in addition to the 2 daily limits in fresh form allowed by permanent rule, except anglers aboard a boat may only possess one daily limit of salmon in fresh form.
(4) Columbia River hand cast restriction: Effective immediately through June 15, 2015:
(a) When the Columbia River from the Tower Island powerlines (located approximately 6 miles below The Dalles Dam) downstream to Bonneville Dam is open to fishing from the Washington bank for hatchery spring Chinook, only hand-casted lines may be used.
(b) It is unlawful to use a floating device to set lines for salmon and steelhead.
(5) Deep River (Wahkiakum Co.): Effective immediately through June 15, 2015: The hatchery adult Chinook daily limit is the same as the adjacent mainstem Columbia River during those days when the mainstem Columbia River is open for adult Chinook retention. When the adjacent mainstem Columbia River is closed for adult Chinook retention, the salmon daily limit is the same as provided in the permanent rules for Deep River.
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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