[Order 19-210—Filed September 4, 2019, 3:28 p.m., effective September 6, 2019]

Effective Date of Rule: September 6, 2019.

Purpose: Amend recreational salmon fishing rules for the Columbia River.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-06000U; and amending WAC 220-312-060.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, 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: This rule is needed to close Chinook retention from the Warrior Rock line to Bonneville Dam. The fishery has already exceeded its preseason planned allocation of upriver bright impacts. This closure is necessary to meet conservation goals and preseason fishing plans agreed upon by comanagers. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 4, 2019.

WAC 220-312-06000VFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-060, effective September 6, 2019:

(1) From Buoy 10 upstream to a line projected from the Warrior Rock lighthouse through Red Buoy 4 to the marker atop the piling dolphin located at the downstream end of Bachelor Island on the Washington shore: salmon and steelhead: Effective immediately through September 30, 2019: Release all steelhead.

(2) From a line projected from the Warrior Rock lighthouse through Red Buoy 4 to the marker atop the piling dolphin located at the downstream end of Bachelor Island on the Washington shore to Bonneville Dam; salmon and steelhead:

(a) Effective immediately through September 30, 2019: Release all steelhead.

(b) Effective September 6 until further notice:

(i) Daily limit 6.

(ii) No more than 2 adults may be retained.

(iii) Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.

(3) From Bonneville Dam to the Dalles Dam: salmon and steelhead: Effective immediately through September 30, 2019: Release all steelhead.

(4) From the upstream line of Rocky Reach Dam to the boundary markers 400' below the spawning channel discharges (on Chelan County side) and the fish ladder (on Douglas County side) at Wells Dam; salmon; effective immediately through October 15, 2019:

(a) Daily limit 6.

(b) No more than 2 adult Chinook may be retained.

(d) Anglers who possess a valid two-pole endorsement may fish for salmon with two lines.

(5) From the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster upstream to the Highway 17 Bridge near Bridgeport; salmon; effective immediately until further notice:

(a) Daily limit 6.

(b) No more than 2 adult Chinook may be retained.

(d) Anglers who possess a valid two-pole endorsement may fish for salmon with two lines.

Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:

Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia (19-202)

Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.