WSR 17-18-019
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 17-202—Filed August 25, 2017, 1:48 p.m., effective September 1, 2017]
Effective Date of Rule: September 1, 2017.
Purpose: Amends recreational freshwater fishing rules for eastside rivers.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-312-050.
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: The U.S. v. Oregon technical advisory committee met on August 7 and 14 to review upriver steelhead returns and downgraded the return of Group A steelhead return to fifty-four thousand. The 2017 preseason forecast was one hundred twelve thousand one hundred Group A steelhead. With a significant reduction to the preseason forecast for Group A steelhead and ongoing concerns between comanagers for Group B steelhead Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW) believes it is important to protect steelhead moving through the Snake River. WDFW will continue to monitor the steelhead run, if additional harvest opportunity can be offered without negatively impacting wild steelhead or hatchery broodstock abundance, seasons and harvest rules may be adjusted. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 25, 2017.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000S Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-050, effective September 1, 2017, until further notice, the following rules apply: Unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect.
(1) Grande Ronde River - from the County Road Bridge (about 2.5 miles upstream from the mouth) to the Oregon State line.
(a) Daily limit of one hatchery steelhead.
(b) Rescinds mandatory hatchery steelhead retention rule.
(c) It is unlawful to fish for or possess steelhead in those waters of all tributaries of the Grand Ronde River.
(2) Snake River – from the mouth of the river (Burbank to Pasco railroad bridge at Snake River mile 1.25) to the Idaho/Oregon State line (seven miles upstream of the mouth of the Grande Ronde River).
(a) Catch and release only for steelhead.
(3) Touchet River – from the mouth to the confluence of the North and South Fork Touchet Rivers.
(a) Daily limit of one hatchery steelhead.
(b) Rescinds mandatory hatchery steelhead retention rule.
(c) It is unlawful to fish for or possess steelhead in those waters of all tributaries of the Touchet River.
(4) Tucannon River – from the mouth to the Tucannon Hatchery Road Bridge.
(a) Daily limit of one hatchery steelhead.
(b) Rescinds mandatory hatchery steelhead retention rule.
(5) Walla Walla River – from the mouth to the Oregon State line.
(a) Daily limit of one hatchery steelhead.
(b) Rescinds mandatory hatchery steelhead retention rule.
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.