WSR 25-07-026
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 25-34—Filed March 10, 2025, 4:43 p.m., effective March 16, 2025]
Effective Date of Rule: March 16, 2025.
Purpose: This emergency rule limits adult salmon daily limits and seasons in Klickitat River, opens hatchery steelhead seasons for Salmon Creek, and limits adult salmon daily limits in Wind River.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-312-030.
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 needed to reduce adult salmon daily limits and seasons for Klickitat River, open hatchery steelhead retention for Salmon Creek, and reduce adult salmon daily limits for Wind River.
Reduced adult salmon daily limits and seasons are necessary for Klickitat River to ensure hatchery broodstock collection goals are achieved while providing recreational harvest opportunity for spring Chinook. The estimated 2025 return of adult spring Chinook to Klickitat River is 1,201, the lowest since 2009.
The Salmon Creek Hatchery steelhead program is replacing early returning winter steelhead stocks with local stocks that exhibit a later run timing as a result of the Mitchell Act biological opinion. This provides anglers with additional time to harvest these fish from Salmon Creek.
Reduced adult salmon daily limits are necessary for Wind River to help ensure spring Chinook broodstock collection goals for Carson National Fish Hatchery are achieved while providing recreational harvest opportunity. The 2025 preseason forecast for returning Wind River spring Chinook is 4,888 adults.
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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: March 10, 2024 [2025].
Amy H. Windrope
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-03000BFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Southwest.
Effective March 16, 2025, until further notice, the provisions of WAC 220-312-030 regarding Klickitat River salmon and steelhead seasons, Salmon Creek hatchery steelhead seasons, and Wind River salmon and steelhead seasons shall be modified during times and as described in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-030 not addressed in this section remain in effect unless otherwise amended by emergency rule:
(1) Klickitat River (Klickitat Co.):
(a) From the mouth (BNSF Railroad Bridge) to Fisher Hill Bridge:
(i) Effective April 1 through May 21, 2025:
Salmon and hatchery steelhead open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only; daily limit 2 including no more than 1 adult salmon. Release wild Chinook.
(ii) Effective May 22, 2025, until further notice: Salmon closed.
(b) From 400 feet upstream from #5 fishway to boundary markers below Klickitat Salmon hatchery:
Effective May 24, 2025, until further notice: Salmon: Closed.
(2) Salmon Creek (Clark Co.): From the mouth to the 182nd Avenue Bridge:
Effective March 16 through May 23, 2025: Hatchery steelhead daily limit 3; Selective gear rules in effect, except use of barbed hooks is allowed.
(3) Wind River (Skamania Co.):
(a) From the boundary line markers at mouth to 400 feet downstream of Shipherd Falls:
Effective March 16, 2025, until further notice: Salmon and hatchery steelhead daily limit is 6, up to 2 adults including no more than 1 adult Chinook may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
(b) From 100 feet upstream of Shipherd Falls to 800 Yards downstream of Carson National Fish Hatchery:
Effective May 1, 2025, until further notice: Salmon and hatchery steelhead daily limit is 6, up to 2 adults including no more than 1 adult Chinook may be retained. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho.