WSR 18-18-072
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 18-226—Filed August 31, 2018, 3:38 p.m., effective September 4, 2018]
Effective Date of Rule: September 4, 2018.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules for Grande Ronde, Snake, Touchet, Tucannon, Walla Walla, and White Salmon rivers.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-03000B and 220-312-05000U; and amending WAC 220-312-030 and 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: This emergency rule is necessary to limit steelhead impacts as the Columbia River run size has been reduced to ninety-six thousand five hundred A/B Index steelhead from a preseason forecast of one hundred eighty-two thousand four hundred fish. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 31, 2018.
Nate Pamplin
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000WFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-050, effective September 4, 2018 until further notice:
(1) Grande Ronde River (Asotin County): from county road bridge (approximately 2.5 miles upstream of mouth) to the Washington/Oregon boundary: Steelhead daily limit is 1 hatchery steelhead.
(2) Snake River (Franklin/Walla Wall Counties): from the Burbank-to-Pasco railroad bridge at river mile 1.25 upstream to the Oregon State line:
(a) Salmon: open immediately through October 31, 2018
(i) Daily limit 6.
(ii) Release all salmon other than adult hatchery Chinook and jack Chinook.
(b) Steelhead: daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead
(c) Anglers must cease fishing for salmon and steelhead once either the daily limit for adult salmon or steelhead has been retained.
(3) Touchet River (Walla Walla County): from mouth to the confluence of North and South Forks: Steelhead daily limit is 1 hatchery steelhead.
(4) Tucannon River (Columbia/Garfield Counties): from mouth to the Tucannon Hatchery Road Bridge: Steelhead daily limit is 1 hatchery steelhead.
(5) Walla Walla River (Walla Walla County): from mouth to the Washington/Oregon border: Steelhead daily limit is 1 hatchery steelhead.
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.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-03000CFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Southwest.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-030, effective September 4, 2018 until further notice:
(1) Drano Lake (Skamania County):
(a) Release all steelhead.
(b) Closed to fishing at night for salmon and steelhead.
(2) White Salmon River (Klickitat/Skamania counties): from mouth (BNSF Railroad bridge) to county road bridge downstream of the former location of the powerhouse:
(a) Release all steelhead.
(b) Closed to fishing at night for salmon and steelhead.
(3) Wind River (Skamania County): from mouth to 400 feet below Shipherd Falls fish ladder:
(a) Release all steelhead.
(b) Closed to fishing at night for salmon and steelhead.
REPEALER
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed effective September 4, 2018:
WAC 220-312-05000U | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside. (18-190) |
WAC 220-312-03000B | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Southwest. (18-204) |