WSR 20-14-027
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 20-114—Filed June 23, 2020, 1:09 p.m., effective July 1, 2020]
Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2020.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to close recreational steelhead fisheries in the Snake River, beginning July 1, 2020, as a matter of conservation due to concerns of low forecasted returns.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: 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 steelhead seasons in the Snake River, effective July 1, 2020.
The 2020 Columbia River forecasted return for upriver steelhead is ninety-five thousand five hundred (eighty-five thousand nine hundred A-index and nine thousand six hundred B-index).
Similar to the last couple of years, steelhead returns are predicted to be low in 2020. Previous closures have been focused on B-index steelhead, but in 2020, there is also an extremely low forecast for A-index steelhead. Preseason concerns for both A-index and B-index groups of fish (wild and hatchery origin) have led Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW) to close this fishery until further notice.
WDFW will continue to monitor steelhead returns and will make decisions in late summer or early fall on how to proceed with Snake River steelhead fisheries as fish begin to return through the lower Columbia River.
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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: June 23, 2020.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000CFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Effective July 1, 2020 and until further notice or until this rule expires on October 21, 2020 the following provisions of WAC 220-312-050 regarding steelhead seasons for the Snake River shall be as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-050 not addressed herein, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:
Snake River (Franklin/Walla Walla Counties):
From the Burbank to Pasco railroad bridge at Snake River mile 1.25 to the Oregon/Idaho border:
Steelhead: Closed to fishing for or retaining.