[Order 24-105—Filed June 24, 2024, 8:35 a.m., effective June 24, 2024, 8:35 a.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: This rule is needed to set gear restrictions and open seasons in the Reiter Ponds area of the Skykomish River.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-04000K; 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 night closure and antisnagging rules in a portion of the Skykomish River. This rule will also close the Reiter Ponds area of Skykomish River beginning July 11, 2024. These gear restrictions and seasons were agreed to during the North of Falcon season setting process and are interim until permanent rules take effect.

This rule also carries forward closures in the Snohomish system, previously announced in WSR 24-11-072, and gear restrictions, announced in WSR 24-13-086.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 21, 2024.

WAC 220-312-04000LFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Puget 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

(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) Skykomish River, from Hwy. 2 Bridge to confluence of North and South forks:

(a) Effective immediately, through July 10, 2024, until further notice: Night closure, Anti-snagging rule, and Selective gear rules in effect for all species.

(b) Effective July 11, 2024, until further notice: All species: Closed.

Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.

The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective immediately:

Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Puget Sound. (24-100)