WSR 20-20-013
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 20-202—Filed September 24, 2020, 3:28 p.m., effective September 26, 2020]
Effective Date of Rule: September 26, 2020.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to open additional white sturgeon retention seasons on September 26, September 29, and October 3, 2020.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-06000X and 220-312-06000Y; and amending WAC 220-312-060.
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 open additional white sturgeon seasons on September 26, September 29, and October 30. Due to lower-than-expected effort, catches were seventy-eight percent of expectations for the first open period with an estimated four hundred twelve fish kept from approximately one thousand eight hundred fifty angler trips. Angler success decreased well below expectations for the second period with approximately two hundred thirty fish kept from about two thousand nine hundred angler trips. Based on these observations, four hundred eighty-four remain available for harvest under the harvest guideline. This action is consistent with decisions made by the states of Washington and Oregon during compact actions of September 23, 2020.
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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 24, 2020.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-06000YFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River.
Effective September 19 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 and steelhead seasons from the mouth (Buoy 10) to the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco, 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: Sturgeon:
(a) It is permissible to retain white sturgeon on September 26, September 29, and October 3, 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 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 (the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line), and including Youngs Bay: Salmon and Steelhead
(a) Effective immediately 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(3) From the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line to Bonneville Dam:
(a) Effective immediately through October 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho. Release all steelhead.
(b) Effective November 1 through December 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho. Release wild steelhead.
(4) From Bonneville Dam to Hood River Bridge: salmon and steelhead:
(a) Effective immediately through October 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho. Release all steelhead. Anti-Snagging rule in effect. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.
(b) October 16 through October 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho. Release all steelhead.
(c) Effective November 1 through December 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho. Release wild steelhead.
(5) From the Hood River Bridge to the Dalles Dam: salmon and steelhead:
(a) Effective immediately through October 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook and coho. Release all steelhead. Anti-Snagging rule in effect. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.
(b) October 16 through October 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook and coho. Release all steelhead.
(c) Effective November 1 through December 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon other than Chinook and coho. Release wild steelhead.
(6) From the Dalles Dam to Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco;
(a) Effective immediately through October 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook and coho. Release all steelhead. Anti-Snagging rule in effect. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.
(b) October 16 through December 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook and coho. Release all steelhead.
REPEALER
The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective immediately:
WAC 220-312-06000X | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River. (20-198) |
The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective January 1, 2021:
WAC 220-312-06000Y | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River. |