Effective Date of Rule: November 4, 2023.
Purpose: The purpose of this emergency rule is to reduce the adult salmon portion of the salmon daily limit to one fish for Grays Harbor streams and some coastal tributaries.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-02000E; and amending WAC 220-312-020.
Reasons for this Finding: This rule is needed to reduce the adult salmon portion of the daily limit to one fish for the Grays Harbor watershed and coastal streams listed in this rule.
Early season indicators suggest the number of coho returning to Grays Harbor and other coastal tributaries are lower than preseason forecast. These measures are necessary to ensure natural escapement and hatchery broodstock goals are met.
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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: November 3, 2023.
Amy H. Windrope
Effective November 4 through December 31, 2023, the following provisions of WAC 220-312-020, regarding recreational salmon seasons for the Grays Harbor watershed listed herein shall be modified as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-020 not addressed herein, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:
(1) Black River (Grays Harbor Co.), from mouth to bridge on 128th Ave SW:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(2) Chehalis River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth upstream to the high bridge on Weyerhaeuser 1000 line:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(3) Clearwater River (Jefferson Co.), from the mouth to Snahapish River:
November 4 through November 30, 2023: Daily limit 3 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(4) Copalis River (Grays Harbor Co.), from mouth to Carlisle Bridge:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(5) Elk River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth (Hwy. 105 Bridge) to the confluence of Middle Branch:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(6) Hoquiam River including West Fork (Grays Harbor Co.), from mouth (Hwy. 101 Bridge on Simpson Ave.) to Dekay Rd. Bridge (West Fork):
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(7) Hoquiam River including East Fork (Grays Harbor Co.), from mouth to confluence of Berryman Creek:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(8) Joe Creek (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth to Ocean Beach Rd. Bridge:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(9) Johns River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth (Hwy. 105 Bridge) to Ballon Creek:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(10) Moclips River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth to Quinault Indian Reservation boundary:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(11) Newaukum River, including South Fork (Lewis Co.), from mouth to Leonard Rd near Onalaska:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(12) Salmon River (Jefferson Co.), from outside Quinault Indian Reservation and Olympic National Park:
November 4 through November 30, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(13) Satsop River and East Fork (Grays Harbor Co.):
(a) From mouth to bridge at Schafer State Park:
Effective November 4 through December 31, 2023: Salmon: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(b) From 400 feet below Bingham Creek Hatchery dam to the dam:
Effective November 4 through December 31, 2023: Salmon: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(14) Skookumchuck River (Lewis/Thurston Co.), from mouth to 100' below outlet of TransAlta WDFW steelhead rearing pond located at the base of Skookumchuck Dam:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(15) Van Winkle Creek (Grays Harbor Co.), from mouth to 400' below outlet of Lake Aberdeen Hatchery:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(16) Wishkah River (Grays Harbor Co.):
(a) From the mouth to 200' below the weir at the Wishkah Rearing Ponds
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(b) From 150' upstream to 150' downstream of the Wishkah adult attraction channel/outfall structure (within the posted fishing boundary):
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
(17) Wynoochee River (Grays Harbor Co.), from mouth to the WDFW White Bridge access site:
November 4 through December 31, 2023: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.
The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective November 4, 2023: