WSR 19-21-008
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 19-248—Filed October 3, 2019, 3:20 p.m., effective October 5, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: October 5, 2019.
Purpose: Amend recreational salmon fishing rules for the Snake River.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-05000Q; 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 needed to close retention of wild adult Chinook in areas of the Snake River open to salmon. Impacts to wild fall Chinook are approaching the allowable quota. Closing fisheries to the retention of unclipped Chinook affords managers to continue to allow fishing opportunity for adipose clipped fall Chinook while keeping the ongoing steelhead fishery in portions of the Snake River within allowable incidental mortality impacts. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: October 3, 2019.
Amy H. Windrope
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000RFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-050, effective October 5, 2019:
(1) Grande Ronde River (Asotin County): from the mouth to the Washington/Oregon boundary: Effective immediately until further notice: 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 the red river marker (Marker 28) on the south shore of the Snake River: Steelhead, effective immediately through December 31, 2019: Closed to fishing for and retaining.
(b) From the red river marker (Marker 28) on the south shore of the Snake River to the Highway 261 Bridge (about 1.4 miles):
(i) Hooks must be barbless when fishing for salmon.
(ii) Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the adult salmon daily limit or steelhead daily limit has been retained.
(iii) Steelhead, effective immediately through December 31, 2019: Closed to fishing and retaining.
(iv) Salmon, effective immediately through October 31:Daily limit 6 adult hatchery Chinook, no daily limit for any jack Chinook; release all other salmon.
(c)The Highway 261 Bridge to Lower Granite Dam:Steelhead, effective through December 31, 2019: Closed to fishing for and retaining.
(d) 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): Steelhead, effective through December 31, 2019: Closed to fishing for and retaining.
(e) 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.
(ii) Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the adult salmon daily limit or steelhead daily limit has been retained.
(iii) Steelhead, effective immediately through December 31, 2019: Closed to fishing for and retaining.
(iv) Salmon, effective immediately through October 13, 2019:Daily limit 6 adult hatchery Chinook; no daily limit for any jack Chinook; release all other salmon.
(f) 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, effective immediately through December 31, 2019:Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead.
(iv) Salmon, effective immediately through October 31, 2019:Daily limit 6 adult hatchery 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: Effective immediately until further notice: 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: Effective immediately until further notice: 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: Effective immediately until further notice: 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 October 5, 2019:
WAC 220-312-05000Q | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside. (19-241) |