WSR 15-24-135 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-432—Filed December 2, 2015, 10:54 a.m., effective December 7, 2015] Effective Date of Rule: December 7, 2015.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-310-19000R; and amending WAC 220-310-190.
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: Restrictions are needed on the Stillaguamish River to ensure broodstock needs for early winter steelhead are met at the Whitehorse Hatchery. No early winter hatchery steelhead smolt have been released from the Whitehorse Hatchery since 2013. This year's hatchery return is forecast to be less than four hundred fish. Approximately one hundred twenty broodstock are needed to meet egg take goals. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: December 2, 2015.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-310-19000R Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Puget Sound.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-310-190, effective December 7, 2015, through January 31, 2016, selective gear rules in effect and catch and release of all steelhead in the following waters:
(1) Stillaguamish River from Marine Drive upstream to the forks.
(2) North Fork Stillaguamish River from the mouth to Swede Heaven Bridge.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed February 1, 2016:
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. | ||||