WSR 15-12-105 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-153—Filed June 2, 2015, 4:00 p.m., effective June 4, 2015] Effective Date of Rule: June 4, 2015.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-310-195.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 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: Based on a May 26 inseason run update, and a recent upstream shift of harvest allocation from the lower Columbia River, spring chinook fisheries can reopen in the Snake River on a three day rotating schedule (three days per week per location). An enhanced daily limit for chinook will be in place for this fishery to allow anglers opportunity to harvest available hatchery fish prior to warmer water temperatures anticipated by mid-June. Chinook possession limits for this fishery have been increased to three daily limits in fresh form, in an effort to promote this fishery as a destination based opportunity. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: June 2, 2015.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-310-19500X Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Snake River.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-310-195 and WAC 220-56-180:
(1) Effective June 4, 2015, until further notice, it is permissible to fish for and possess salmon in the following waters of the Snake River from Texas Rapids boat launch (south side of the river approximately 3.5 miles upstream of the mouth of Tucannon River) to the fishing restriction boundary below Little Goose Dam. 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).
(a) Open Thursday through Saturday each week.
(b) Daily limit of six hatchery Chinook, of which not more than two may be an adult Chinook. Minimum size for Chinook is 12 inches in length.
(c) All Chinook with the adipose fin intact, and all steelhead, must be released immediately, unharmed. Except, beginning June 16, up to three hatchery steelhead may be retained.
(d) Hooks must be barbless when fishing for all species during times and in locations open for salmon fishing and retention, and only single barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for sturgeon.
(e) It is unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8-inch (point of hook to shank) for all species except sturgeon.
(f) Night closure is in effect for salmon and sturgeon.
(g) For all areas open for Chinook, anglers must cease fishing for Chinook when the adult limit has been retained for the day.
(h) Anglers may possess one daily limit in fresh form in addition to the two daily limits in fresh form allowed by permanent rule.
(2) Effective June 4, 2015, until further notice, it is permissible to fish for and possess salmon in the following waters of the Snake River from the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from the West Evans Road on the south shore) upstream about 3.5 miles to the Washington state line (from the east levee of the Greenbelt boat launch in Clarkston northwest across the Snake River to the WA/ID boundary waters marker on the Whitman County shore).
(a) Open Thursday through Saturday each week.
(b) Daily limit of six hatchery Chinook, of which not more than two may be an adult Chinook. Minimum size for Chinook is 12 inches in length.
(c) All Chinook with the adipose fin intact, and all steelhead, must be released immediately, unharmed. Except, beginning June 16, up to three hatchery steelhead may be retained.
(d) Hooks must be barbless when fishing for all species during times and in locations open for salmon fishing and retention, and only single barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for sturgeon.
(e) It is unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8-inch (point of hook to shank) for all species except sturgeon.
(f) Night closure is in effect for salmon and sturgeon.
(g) For all areas open for Chinook, anglers must cease fishing for Chinook when the adult limit has been retained for the day.
(f) Anglers may possess one daily limit in fresh form in addition to the two daily limits in fresh form allowed by permanent rule.
(3) Effective June 7, 2015, until further notice, It is permissible 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 below Ice Harbor Dam.
(a) Open Sunday through Tuesday each week.
(b) Daily limit of six hatchery Chinook, of which not more than two may be an adult Chinook. Minimum size for Chinook is 12 inches in length.
(c) All Chinook with the adipose fin intact, and all steelhead, must be released immediately, unharmed. Except, beginning June 16, up to three hatchery steelhead may be retained.
(d) Hooks must be barbless when fishing for all species during times and in locations open for salmon fishing and retention, and only single barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for sturgeon.
(e) It is unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8-inch (point of hook to shank) for all species except sturgeon.
(f) Night closure is in effect for salmon and sturgeon.
(g) For all areas open for Chinook, anglers must cease fishing for Chinook when the adult limit has been retained for the day.
(h) Anglers may possess one daily limit in fresh form in addition to the two daily limits in fresh form allowed by permanent rule.
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