WSR 19-18-023
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 19-200—Filed August 28, 2019, 9:00 a.m., effective September 1, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: September 1, 2019.
Purpose: Amend recreational steelhead fishing rules for the Grande Ronde, Snake, Touchet, Tucannon, and Walla Wall [Walla] rivers.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-05000M; 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: This emergency rule is necessary [to] reduce the steelhead daily limit for the Grande Ronde, Snake, Touchet, Tucannon, and Walla Walla rivers. The 2019 Columbia River forecasted return for upriver steelhead was one hundred eighteen thousand two hundred. With continued concerns between comanagers for A run steelhead and impacts to wild fish we feel it is important to reduce limits to protect steelhead within the Snake River and its tributaries. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 27, 2019.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000NFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-050, effective September 1, 2019 until further notice:
(1) Grande Ronde River (Asotin County): from the mouth to the Washington/Oregon boundary: Steelhead daily limit is 1 hatchery steelhead, anglers must stop fishing for steelhead after their daily limit has been retained.
(2) Snake River (Franklin/Walla Wall Counties):
(a) from the mouth (Burbank-to-Pasco railroad bridge at river mile 1.25) to Lower Granite Dam:
(i) Hooks must be barbless when fishing for salmon or steelhead.
(ii) Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon or steelhead after the adult salmon daily limit or steelhead daily limit has been retained.
(iii) Steelhead:
(A) Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead.
(B) Release all steelhead 28 inches or greater in length.
(C) Anglers must stop fishing for steelhead once their daily limit has been retained.
(iv) Salmon, effective immediately through October 31:Daily limit 6 hatchery adult Chinook, no daily limit for any jack Chinook. Release all other salmon.
(b) from Lower Granite Dam to the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from West Evans Road on the south shore):
(i) Hooks must be barbless when fishing for salmon or steelhead.
(ii) Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon or steelhead after the adult salmon daily limit or steelhead daily limit has been retained.
(iii) Steelhead:
(A) Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead.
(B) Release all steelhead 28 inches or greater in length.
(C) Anglers must stop fishing for steelhead once their daily limit has been retained.
(c) from the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from West Evans Road on the south shore) upstream to Couse Creek Boat Ramp:
(i) Hooks must be barbless when fishing for salmon or steelhead.
(ii) Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon or steelhead after the adult salmon daily limit or steelhead daily limit has been retained.
(iii) Steelhead:
(A) Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead.
(B) Release all steelhead 28 inches or greater in length.
(C) Anglers must stop fishing for steelhead once their daily limit has been retained.
(iv) Salmon, effective immediately through October 31:Daily limit 6 hatchery adult Chinook, no daily limit for any jack Chinook. Release all other salmon.
(d) from Couse Creek Boat Ramp to ID/OR border:
(i) Hooks must be barbless when fishing for salmon or steelhead.
(ii) Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon or steelhead after the adult salmon daily limit or steelhead daily limit has been retained.
(iii) Steelhead:
(A) Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead.
(B) Anglers must stop fishing for steelhead once their daily limit has been retained.
(iv) Salmon, effective immediately through October 31:Daily limit 6 hatchery adult Chinook, no daily limit for any jack Chinook. Release all other salmon.
(3) Touchet River (Walla Walla County): from mouth to the confluence of North and South Forks: Steelhead daily limit is 1 hatchery steelhead, anglers must stop fishing for steelhead once their daily limit has been retained.
(4) Tucannon River (Columbia/Garfield Counties): from mouth to the Tucannon Hatchery Road Bridge: Steelhead daily limit is 1 hatchery steelhead, anglers must stop fishing for steelhead once their daily limit has been retained.
(5) Walla Walla River (Walla Walla County): from mouth to the Washington/Oregon border: Steelhead daily limit is 1 hatchery steelhead, anglers must stop fishing for steelhead once their daily limit has been retained.
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.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective September 1, 2019:
WAC 220-312-05000M | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside. (19-199) |