WSR 19-16-047
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 19-172—Filed July 30, 2019, 8:18 a.m., effective August 1, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: August 1, 2019.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules for southwest Washington waters.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-03000Z; and amending WAC 220-312-030.
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 department is in the process of adopting permanent rules that are necessary to implement the state's share of the fishing plans agreed to with resource comanagers at the 2019 North of Falcon proceedings. These emergency rules are necessary to take advantage of the state's fishing opportunity that is imminent and will be available prior to the permanent rule, in a manner consistent with comanager agreed fisheries.
The reason[s] for the emergency rules are to meet conservation objectives and because the current 2018 permanent rule is inconsistent with the agreed 2019 North of Falcon fishery sharing package.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 29, 2019.
Amy Windrope
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-03000ZFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Southwest.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-030, effective August 1 through August 12, 2019:
1. Cowlitz River (Cowlitz Co.):
(a) From the boundary markers at mouth to Lexington Bridge:
(i) Steelhead: Catch and release.
(ii) Salmon: Daily limit 6, up to 4 adults may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery coho.
(b) From Lexington Bridge to 400 feet or posted markers below the Cowlitz Salmon hatchery barrier dam: Salmon: Daily limit 6, up to 4 adults may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery coho.
2. Drano Lake (Skamania Co.):
(a) Night closure.
(b) Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit 6; up to 1 adult salmon may be retained. Release all steelhead.
3. Elochoman River (Wahkiakum Co.): Salmon: Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
4. Grays River (Wahkiakum Co.): Salmon: Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
5. Grays River, West Fork (Wahkiakum Co.): Salmon: Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
6. Green River (Cowlitz Co.): From the mouth to Miner's Creek: Salmon: Daily limit 6, up to 4 adults may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery coho.
7. Kalama River (Cowlitz Co.):
(a) From the mouth to railroad bridge below I-5:
(i)Night closure.
(ii) Steelhead: Release all steelhead.
(b) From the railroad bridge below I-5 to 1000 feet below the fishway at the upper salmon hatchery:
(i) From Modrow Bridge downstream to the markers approximately 1,000 feet below the temporary rack when the rack is installed below Modrow Bridge: Closed waters.
(ii) Salmon: Daily limit 6, up to 3 adults may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
8. Klickitat River (Klickitat Co.): From the mouth to Fishery Hill Bridge: Steelhead: Release all steelhead.
9. Swift Reservoir (Skamania Co.): From the dam to posted markers approximately 3/8 mile below Eagle Cliff Bridge: Salmon:
(a) Salmon count toward trout daily limit.
(b) Minimum length: 8 inches.
(c) No catch record card required.
10. Tilton River (Lewis Co.): From mouth to West Fork: Salmon: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery coho.
11. Toutle River (Cowlitz Co.): From the mouth to the forks: Salmon: Daily limit 6, up to 4 adults may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery coho.
12. Washougal River (Clark Co.):
(a) From the mouth to the boat ramp at the WDFW county line access site:
(i) Steelhead: Catch and release.
(ii) Salmon: Closed.
(b) From the boat ramp at the WDFW county line access site to the bridge at Salmon Falls:
(i) From 1,000 feet (or posted markers) below to 200 feet above the temporary weir when the weir is installed in the river: Closed waters.
(ii) Salmon: Release all salmon other than hatchery coho.
13. White Salmon River (Klickitat/Skamania Co.):
(a) From the mouth (Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge) to the county road bridge below the former location of the powerhouse: Salmon and steelhead:
(i) Night closure.
(ii) Daily limit 6, up to 2 adult salmon may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
14. Wind River (Skamania Co.): From the mouth to 400 feet downstream of Shipherd Falls fish ladder: Salmon and steelhead:
(a) Night closure.
(b) Daily limit 6, up to 2 adult salmon may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective August 13, 2019:
WAC 220-312-03000Z | Southwest—Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules. |