WSR 20-18-069
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 20-170—Filed August 31, 2020, 5:08 p.m., effective September 1, 2020]
Effective Date of Rule: September 1, 2020.
Purpose: Amends freshwater fishing rules for the Grande Ronde, Snake, Touchet, Tucannon and Walla Walla rivers.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-05000C; 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 adjust steelhead daily limits for the Snake River and its tributaries. Updated forecasts indicate returns of Snake River tributary stocks, particularly Tucannon and Touchet, tracking below the preseason forecast. Reductions in daily limits to the Snake River and its tributaries are needed to ensure that broodstock needs are met and to limit impacts on wild steelhead.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 31, 2020.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000GFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Effective September 1, 2020 and until further notice or until this rule expires on December 30, 2020 the following provisions of WAC 220-312-050 regarding steelhead seasons for the Snake River and its tributaries, the Grande Ronde, Touchet, Tucannon, and Walla Walla rivers shall be as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-050 not addressed herein, or otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:
(1) Grande Ronde River (Asotin County): from the mouth to the Washington/Oregon border: Steelhead:
(a) Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead.
(b) Barbless hooks required.
(c) Anglers may not continue to fish for steelhead once their daily limit of steelhead has been retained.
(d) Anglers may not remove any Chinook, Coho, or steelhead from the water if it is not to be retained as part of the daily limit.
(2) Snake River (Franklin/Walla Walla Counties):
(a) From the Burbank to Pasco railroad bridge at Snake River mile 1.25 to Lower Granite Dam: Steelhead:
(i) Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead.
(ii) Barbless hooks required.
(iii) Anglers may not continue to fish for steelhead once their daily limit of steelhead has been retained.
(iv) Anglers may not remove any Chinook, Coho, or steelhead from the water if it is not to be retained as part of the daily limit.
(b) From Lower Granite Dam to the Oregon/Idaho border: Steelhead:
(i) Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead.
(ii) Barbless hooks required.
(iii) Anglers may not continue to fish for steelhead once their daily limit of steelhead has been retained.
(iv) Anglers may not remove any Chinook, Coho, or steelhead from the water if it is not to be retained as part of the daily limit.
(3) Touchet River (Walla Walla County): from the mouth to the confluence of the North and South Forks: Steelhead:
(a) Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead.
(b) Barbless hooks required.
(c) Anglers may not continue to fish for steelhead once their daily limit of steelhead has been retained.
(d) Anglers may not remove any Chinook, Coho, or steelhead from the water if it is not to be retained as part of the daily limit.
(4) Tucannon River (Columbia/Garfield Counties): from the mouth to the Tucannon Hatchery Road Bridge: Steelhead:
(a) Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead.
(b) Barbless hooks required.
(c) Anglers may not continue to fish for steelhead once their daily limit of steelhead has been retained.
(d) Anglers may not remove any Chinook, Coho, or steelhead from the water if it is not to be retained as part of the daily limit.
(5) Walla Walla River (Walla Walla County): from the mouth to the Washington/Oregon border: Steelhead:
(a) Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead.
(b) Barbless hooks required.
(c) Anglers may not continue to fish for steelhead once their daily limit of steelhead has been retained.
(d) Anglers may not remove any Chinook, Coho, or steelhead from the water if it is not to be retained as part of the daily limit.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective September 1, 2020:
WAC 220-312-05000C | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside. (20-114) |