WSR 15-19-108 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-350—Filed September 18, 2015, 11:23 p.m., effective September 18, 2015, 11:23 p.m.] Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: This emergency rule will 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 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 220-33-01000X; and amending WAC 220-33-010.
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: Sets two mainstem commercial fishing periods during the late fall season. Select area sites remain open. Chinook remain available for commercial harvest. Harvest estimates are within ESA limits and sharing guidelines. The seasons are consistent with the U.S. v. Oregon 2008-2017 Interim Management Agreement and the fall Chinook allocation agreement developed through the North of Falcon process. The rule is consistent with compact action of July 29 and September 17, 2015. There is insufficient time to adopt 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: September 18, 2015.
James B. Scott, Jr.
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-33-01000Y Columbia River season below Bonneville.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-33-010, it is unlawful for a person to take or possess salmon for commercial purposes from Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas (SMCRA) 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E, except as provided in this section.
(1) Mainstem Columbia River
(a) SEASON: 8:00 PM September 20 to 6:00 AM September 21, 2015 and 8:00 PM September 22 to 6:00 AM September 23, 2015.
(b) AREA: SMCRA 1D, 1E. The deadline at the lower end of SMCRA 1D is defined as a straight line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore easterly through the green navigation buoy #1 and continuing to the Washington shore.
(c) GEAR: Drift gillnets only. 8-inch minimum mesh size. Nets not specifically authorized for use may be onboard the vessel if properly stored, consistent with WAC 220-33-001. Lighted buoys required.
(d) SANCTUARIES: Washougal and Sandy Rivers. The lower end of the Washougal sanctuary is extended and defined as: a line originating at USCG green marker #1 near the Washington shore due south to the downstream Fisher Quarry Channel range light on the western end of Ackerman Island then from the upstream tip of Ackerman Island (Sand Island) across to the downstream (western) tip of Lady Island.
(e) ALLOWABLE POSSESSION: Chinook, Coho, pink and sockeye salmon and shad.
(2) Deep River Select Area.
(a) SEASON: Open hours 6:00 PM to 9:00 AM.
(i) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights effective immediately through September 26, 2015
(ii) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights September 28 through October 16, 2015
(iii) 6:00 PM Monday October 19 to 9:00 AM Tuesday October 20, 2015
(b) AREA: The Deep River Select Area. Concurrent-jurisdiction waters extend downstream of the Highway 4 Bridge.
(c) GEAR: Gillnet. Monofilament gear is allowed. 6-inch maximum mesh. Net length: 100 fathoms maximum. No weight restriction on the lead line. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the lead line is allowed. Nets may not be tied off to stationary structures. Nets may not fully cross the navigation channel. It is unlawful to operate in any river, stream or channel any gillnet gear longer than three-fourths the width of the river, stream, or channel. "River, stream, or channel width" is defined as bank-to-bank, where the water meets the banks, regardless of the time of tide or the water level. This emergency provision supersedes the permanent rule and all other rules that conflict with it.
(3) Tongue Point/South Channel Select Area.
(a) SEASON: Open hours 4:00 PM to 10:00 AM. Open days are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from September 20 through October 30, 2015.
(b) AREA: Tongue Point and South Channel. All waters in this fishing area are concurrent-jurisdiction waters.
(c) GEAR: Gillnet; 6-inch maximum mesh. Net length: 250 fathoms maximum.
(i) Tongue Point fishing area: weight not to exceed two pounds in any one fathom. Fishers participating in the Tongue Point fishery may have un-stored gillnets legal for the South Channel fishing area onboard the vessel.
(ii) South Channel area: no weight restriction on leadline. Use of additional weights and/or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed
(4) Blind Slough/Knappa Slough Select Area.
(a) SEASON: Open hours are: 6:00 PM to 10:00 AM. Open days are: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from September 20 through October 30, 2015.
(b) AREA: Blind Slough and Knappa Slough. An area closure of an approximately 100-foot radius at the mouth of Big Creek is in effect. Concurrent jurisdiction waters include all areas in Knappa Slough and downstream of the Railroad Bridge in Blind Slough.
(c) GEAR: Gillnet. Monofilament gear is allowed. 9 3/4-inch maximum mesh size. Maximum net length of 100 fathoms. No weight restriction on lead line. Use of additional weights and/or anchors attached directly to the lead line is allowed.
(5) Additional requirements for all Select Area commercial fisheries:
(a) Nets not specifically authorized for use may be onboard the vessel if properly stored, consistent with WAC 220-33-001.
(b) ALLOWABLE POSSESSION: Chinook, Coho, pink and sockeye salmon and shad.
(c) Nets fished any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the end of the net opposite the boat is required.
(6) Quick Reporting: 24-hour quick reporting is required for Washington wholesale dealers for all seasons in this section, as provided in WAC 220-69-240. Columbia River reports must be submitted within 24 hours of the closure of each fishing period.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
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