WSR 24-13-086
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 24-100—Filed June 17, 2024, 4:22 p.m., effective June 17, 2024, 4:22 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: This emergency rule is needed to place selective gear rules in a portion of Skykomish River.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-04000F; and amending WAC 220-312-040.
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 impose selective gear rules in a portion of the Skykomish River. This gear restriction was agreed to during the North of Falcon season setting process; permanent rule making has been initiated. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.
This rule also carries forward closures in the Snohomish system, previously announced in WSR 24-11-072.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 17, 2024.
Kelly Susewind
Director
[NEW SECTION]
WAC 220-312-04000KFreshwater exceptions to statewide rulesPuget Sound.
Effective immediately, until further notice, provisions of WAC 220-312-040 regarding recreational fishing seasons for the Snohomish River system shall be modified as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-040 not addressed herein, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule remain in effect:
(1) The following waters are closed to all fishing immediately, until further notice:
(a) Cherry Creek, from mouth upstream
(b) Raging River, from mouth upstream
(c) Skykomish River, from mouth to Hwy. 2 Bridge
(d) Skykomish River, North Fork, from mouth upstream to Bear Creek Falls
(e) Skykomish River, South Fork, from mouth to 600' downstream of Sunset Falls Fishway
(f) Snohomish River, from mouth to confluence of Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers
(g) Snoqualmie River, from mouth to Snoqualmie Falls
(h) Sultan River, from mouth upstream
(i) Tolt River, from mouth to confluence of North and South forks
(j) Wallace River, from mouth to 200' upstream of water intake of salmon hatchery
(2) Effective immediately, through July 10, 2024, until further notice:
Skykomish River, from Hwy. 2 Bridge to confluence of North and South forks: Selective gear rules in effect.
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.
REPEALER
The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective immediately:
WAC 220-312-04000F
Freshwater exceptions to statewide rulesPuget Sound. (24-70)