WSR 17-21-029 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 17-274—Filed October 10, 2017, 2:11 p.m., effective October 15, 2017] Effective Date of Rule: October 15, 2017. Purpose: Amends recreational freshwater fishing rules for eastside rivers. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-05000S; and amending WAC 220-312-050. 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: Lagging steelhead returns during the summer of 2017 led fisheries managers to close or reduce daily limits for steelhead fisheries in most of the Columbia River and its tributaries. Recent upturns in the abundance of migrating steelhead over Bonneville Dam and the Snake River dams indicates to fisheries managers that there are adequate numbers of wild and hatchery Group A steelhead to allow for increasing steelhead harvest opportunities during the fall 2017 and winter 2018 in the Snake River and select tributaries to the Snake River. 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 Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: October 10, 2017. Joe Stohr
for J. W. Unsworth Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000W Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-050, effective October 15, 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 two 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 Grande Ronde River.
(2) Snake River – from the mouth of the Snake River (Burbank to Pasco railroad bridge at Snake River mile 1.25) to the Washington/Idaho State line, at Clarkston Washington.
(a) Catch and release only for all steelhead.
(3) Snake River - from the Idaho/Washington state line at (Clarkston Washington) upstream to the Couse Creek Boat Ramp.
(a) Two fish daily limit, release all steelhead 28 inches or greater in length.
(4) Snake River – from Couse Creek Boat Ramp upstream to the Idaho/Oregon state line.
(a) Two fish daily limit, no size restrictions.
(5) Touchet River – from the mouth to the confluence of the North and South Fork Touchet Rivers.
(a) Daily limit of two 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.
(6) Tucannon River – from the mouth to the Tucannon Hatchery Road Bridge.
(a) Daily limit of two hatchery steelhead.
(b) Rescinds mandatory hatchery steelhead retention rule.
(7) Walla Walla River – from the mouth to the Oregon State line.
(a) Daily limit of two hatchery steelhead.
(b) Rescinds mandatory hatchery steelhead retention rule.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective October 15, 2017:
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