WSR 20-20-042
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 20-211—Filed September 30, 2020, 12:31 p.m., effective October 1, 2020]
Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2020.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to increase the Chinook daily limit during the month of October from the mouth of the Columbia River to the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-06000Y and 220-312-06000A; 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 increase the Chinook daily limit to two adults. The fall Chinook run continues coming in above forecast and balance in the recreational allocation remains to enable a bag limit increase. This action is consistent with the preseason plan for salmon fisheries and decisions made by the states of Washington and Oregon during compact actions on September 3, 9, 17, and 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 30, 2020.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-06000AFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River.
Effective October 1 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 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 October 1 through October 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Coho minimum size 16 inches. 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 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: Salmon and steelhead:
(a) Effective October 1 through October 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. 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 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 October 1 through October 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. 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) Effective October 16 through October 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. 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 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 October 1 through October 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. 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) Effective October 16 through October 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. 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 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: Salmon and steelhead:
(a) Effective October 1 through October 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. 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) Effective October 16 through December 31, 2020: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon other than Chinook and coho. Release all steelhead.
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 Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective October 1, 2020:
WAC 220-312-06000Y | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River. (20-202) |
The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective January 1, 2021:
WAC 220-312-06000A | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River. |