[Order 24-98—Filed June 12, 2024, 9:59 a.m., effective June 13, 2024]

Effective Date of Rule: June 13, 2024.

Purpose: The purpose of this emergency rule is to return Kalama River salmon rules to permanent rules.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-03000Q; and amending WAC 220-312-030.

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 emergency rule is necessary to return Kalama River to permanent rules.

The adult salmon daily limit on the Kalama River was reduced earlier in the year to help ensure the spring Chinook broodstock collection goal was achieved. Adult broodstock collection is on track and expected to be met, therefore a reduced daily limit is no longer needed.

Cowlitz River, Drano Lake, Klickitat River, Lewis River, and Wind River rules remain in place from WSR 24-06-039 and 24-12-012.

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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: June 12, 2024.

WAC 220-312-03000TFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Southwest.

Effective June 13, 2024, until further notice, the provisions of WAC 220-312-030 regarding Cowlitz River, Drano Lake, Kalama River, Klickitat River, Wind River salmon and steelhead seasons, and Lewis River salmon and steelhead seasons and all species rules. seasons shall be modified during times and as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-030 not addressed herein remain in effect unless otherwise amended by emergency rule:

(1) Cowlitz River (Cowlitz/Lewis Co.): From boundary markers at the mouth to the fishing boundary markers below Barrier Dam: Effective immediately, until further notice: Salmon: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.

(2) Drano Lake (Skamania Co.): Waters downstream of markers on point of land downstream and across from Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery and upstream of the Hwy. 14 bridge: Effective immediately, until further notice: Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 adult salmon. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release all wild steelhead.

(3) Klickitat River (Klickitat Co.):

(a) From the mouth (Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge) to Fisher Hill Bridge: Effective immediately, until further notice: Salmon: Closed

(b) From 400 feet upstream from #5 fishway to boundary markers below Klickitat Salmon hatchery: Effective immediately, until further notice: Salmon: Closed.

(4) Lewis River (Clark/Cowlitz Co.): From mouth to Colvin Creek: Effective immediately, through July 31, 2024: Salmon: Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.

(5) Wind River (Skamania Co.): From the mouth (line of buoy markers south of the Hwy. 14 bridge) to 800 yards downstream of Carson National Fish Hatchery: Effective immediately, until further notice: Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit 6. Up to 1 adult salmon and 1 hatchery steelhead, or up to 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho. Release wild steelhead.

Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective June 13, 2024:

Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Southwest. (24-77)