[Order 20-182—Filed September 8, 2020, 4:29 p.m., effective September 8, 2020, 4:29 p.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to amend WSR 20-19-017 to require the release of chum salmon from the Columbia River mouth to the Megler-Astoria Bridge through December 31.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-06000U and 220-312-06000V; 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 correct chum salmon limits filed under WSR 20-19-017. Chum salmon should be released at all times in the Columbia River, this rule was inadvertently omitted in WSR 20-19-017 and is a rule that was agreed to during the preseason North of Falcon proceedings.

There is insufficient time to adopt permanent regulations.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 8, 2020.

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

Effective immediately through December 31, 2020, the provisions of WAC 220-312-060 regarding recreational sturgeon seasons in the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam and the Cowlitz River and Columbia River salmon seasons from the mouth (Buoy 10) to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line, shall be as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-060 not addressed herein remain in effect unless otherwise amended by emergency rule:

(1) From Wauna powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam, including the Cowlitz River:

(a) It is permissible to retain white sturgeon on Saturday, September 12 and Saturday, September 19, 2020.

(i) The daily limit of white sturgeon is one fish.

(ii) Minimum fork length 44 inches. Maximum fork length 50 inches.

(b) Catch and release angling is permissible on days not open to sturgeon retention.

(2) From a true North and South line through Buoy 10 to the Megler Astoria Bridge to a projected line from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through Red Buoy 44 to the red navigation marker 2 at Tongue Point on the Oregon Bank (CRC 519) upstream to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line:

(a) Effective immediately through September 22, 2020: Daily limit 2. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Release all salmon other than hatchery coho. Release all steelhead.

(b) Effective September 23 through September 30, 2020: Daily limit 2, no more than 1 may be a Chinook. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Chinook minimum size 24". Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho. Release all steelhead.

(c) Effective October 1 through October 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, no more than 1 may be a Chinook. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho. Release all steelhead.

(d) Effective November 1 through December 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, no more than 1 may be a Chinook and no more than 1 may be a steelhead. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho. Release wild steelhead.

The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective immediately:

Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River. (20-178)

The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective January 1, 2021:

Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River.