WSR 15-20-002 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-358—Filed September 23, 2015, 3:02 p.m., effective September 23, 2015, 3:02 p.m.] Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to provide for treaty Indian fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting salmon 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 and federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-32-05100K; and amending WAC 220-32-051.
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 a 3.5 day fishing period for the 2015 treaty commercial gillnet fall season. Continues to allow the sale of platform and hook and line caught fish from mainstem tribal fisheries in Zone 6. Sales of fish landed in the area downstream of Bonneville Dam (consistent with tribal MOU/MOAs) may also occur if the area is lawfully open for sales under tribal regulations. Similarly, the sale of fish caught in Yakama Nation tributary fisheries are allowed when open under Yakama Nation regulations. Over three hundred fifty thousand adult fall Chinook are available to the treaty tribes for harvest based on the inseason forecast of one million one hundred sixty-five thousand six hundred fish. Steelhead harvest is expected to remain within the guideline based on the inseason forecast of twenty thousand Group B fish. The quick reporting rule continues to be modified to require quick reporting within twenty-four hours of completing the fish ticket, which is intended to allow harvest to be tracked as the season progresses. Fisheries are consistent with the 2008-2017 Management Agreement and the associated biological opinion. Rule is consistent with action of the Columbia River Compact on July 29, August 12 and September 10 and 23, 2015. Conforms state rules with tribal rules. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.
The Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River and inherent sovereign authority to regulate their fisheries. Washington and Oregon also have some authority to regulate fishing by treaty Indians in the Columbia River, authority that the states exercise jointly under the congressionally ratified Columbia River Compact. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). The tribes and the states adopt parallel regulations for treaty Indian fisheries under the supervision of the federal courts. A court order sets the current parameters. 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 salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River 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 allow[s] for some incidental take of these species in the fisheries as described in the 2008-2017 U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement. Columbia River fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure consistency with court orders and ESA guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. As required by court order, the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and invite tribal participation when considering proposals for new emergency rules affecting treaty fishing rights. Sohappy, 302 F. Supp. at 912. 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 23, 2015.
Joe Stohr
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-32-05100L Columbia River salmon seasons above Bonneville Dam.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-32-050, WAC 220-32-051, WAC 220-32-052 and WAC 220-32-058, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful for a person to take or possess salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, or yellow perch taken for commercial purposes in Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1E1, 1F, 1G, and 1H, and in the Wind River, Klickitat River, and Drano Lake. However, those individuals possessing treaty fishing rights under the Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce treaties may fish for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, or yellow perch under the following provisions.
(1) Open Area: SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H (Zone 6):
(a) Season:
(i) Immediately until 6:00 PM Friday, Sept 25, 2015; and
(ii) 6:00 a.m. September 28 until 6:00 p.m. October 1, 2015.
(b) Gear: Gillnets only; 8-inch minimum mesh restriction.
(c) Allowable Sales: Salmon, steelhead, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, or yellow perch. Sturgeon between 38-54 inches in fork length in the Bonneville Pool and sturgeon between 43-54 inches in fork length in The Dalles and John Day pools may be retained for subsistence purposes only.
(d) Standard sanctuaries for this gear type are in effect, except the Spring Creek Hatchery sanctuary will be reduced to a 150 foot radius around the hatchery ladder.
(2) Open Area: SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H (Zone 6):
(a) Season: Immediately until further notice.
(b) Gear: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook and line.
(c) Allowable sale: Salmon, steelhead, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, or yellow perch. Sturgeon between 38-54 inches in fork length in the Bonneville Pool and sturgeon between 43-54 inches in fork length in The Dalles and John Day pools may be retained for subsistence purposes only. Live release of all oversize and under-size sturgeon is required.
(d) All sanctuaries for these gear types are in effect.
(3) Columbia River Tributaries upstream of Bonneville Dam:
(a) Season: Immediately until further notice, and only during those days and hours when the tributaries listed below are open under lawfully enacted Yakama Nation tribal subsistence fishery regulations for enrolled Yakama Nation members.
(b) Area: Drano Lake, Wind River and Klickitat River.
(c) Gear: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line. Gill nets may only be used in Drano Lake.
(d) Allowable Sales: Salmon, steelhead, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, or yellow perch. Sturgeon between 43-54 inches fork length harvested in tributaries within The Dalles or John Day Pools and sturgeon between 38-54 inches fork length harvested in tributaries within Bonneville pool may not be sold but may be kept for subsistence purposes only. Live release of all oversize and under-size sturgeon is required.
(4) Open Area: SMCRA 1E1. Each of the four Columbia River treaty tribes has an MOA or MOU with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for tribal fisheries in the area just downstream of Bonneville Dam (within SMCRA 1E1). Tribal fisheries in this area may only occur in accordance with the appropriate MOA or MOU specific to each tribe, and only within any specific regulations set by each tribe.
(a) Participants:
(i) Tribal members may participate under the conditions described in the 2007 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Yakama Nation (YN), in the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), in the 2010 MOU with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Spring Reservation (CTWS), and in the 2013 MOU with the Nez Perce Tribe.
(ii) Tribal members fishing below Bonneville Dam must carry an official tribal enrollment card.
(b) Season: Immediately until further notice. Open only during those days and hours when open under lawfully enacted tribal subsistence fishery regulations for enrolled tribal members.
(c) Allowable gear: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook and line.
(d) Allowable Sales: Salmon, steelhead, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, or yellow perch. Sturgeon retention is prohibited for any purpose. Sale of platform or hook-and-line-caught fish is allowed. Sales may not occur on USACE property.
(5) 24-hour quick reporting is required as provided in WAC 220-69-240, for Washington wholesale dealers for all areas, except that all landings from treaty fisheries described above must be reported within 24-hours of completing the fish ticket (not 24-hours after the period concludes).
(6) Sales of fish are allowed after open period concludes, as long as the fish sold were landed during the open period.
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:
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