S-3722               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6788

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Sutherland, Owen and Bauer

Read first time 1/25/90 and referred to Committee on  Environment & Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to improvement of Columbia river recreational salmon and sturgeon fishing; adding new sections to chapter 75.25 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 75.48 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 75.30 RCW; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 75.25 RCW to read as follows:

          The legislature finds that the Columbia river recreational salmon and sturgeon fisheries are depressed and that it shall be state policy to improve the recreational opportunity for salmon and sturgeon fishing.  The department of fisheries shall institute the management changes necessary to improve recreational fishing for salmon and sturgeon in the Columbia river.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 75.25 RCW to read as follows:

          Recreational fishing preserves shall be established by the director for the purpose of fostering the development of recreational fisheries without competition and conflict from commercial fisheries.  Recreational fishing for food fish shall be the only fishery allowed in the following areas:

          (1) Columbia river within one-half mile of the mouths of the following tributaries:

          (a) Washougal river;

          (b) Camas slough;

          (c) Lewis river;

          (d) Kalama river;

          (e) Cowlitz river;

          (f) Elokomin river;

          (g) Elokomin sloughs;

          (h) Grays river; and

          (i) Deep river.

          (2) Migratory food fish preserves, which are defined as geographically distinct sanctuaries for food fish that move or migrate parallel with and in concert with a run of food fish.

          This subsection shall be implemented by rule of the director to act as a safeguard to protect a certain quantity of food fish from commercial harvest.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 75.48 RCW to read as follows:

          A salmon enhancement project shall be constructed at Ringold springs which will double the current production capacity of spring chinook salmon.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 75.30 RCW to read as follows:

          The Columbia river spring chinook salmon fishery shall be regulated to minimize the conflicts with recreational and commercial fisheries by placing the following restrictions on the fishery:

          (1) The non-Indian harvest of spring chinook destined for the upper Columbia river, above Bonneville Dam, will be allocated as follows when annual forecasted run sizes exceed one hundred forty-four thousand fish:

          (a) The commercial fishery below the Interstate 5 bridge will be allowed an incidental catch necessary to harvest the commercial share of Willamette river stock as defined in the Oregon department of fish and wildlife Willamette river management plan.

          (b) The balance will be allocated to the recreational fishery.

          (2) The non-Indian harvest of spring chinook destined for the upper Columbia river, above Bonneville Dam, will be allocated as follows when annual forecasted run sizes exceed two hundred thousand fish:

          The commercial fishery below the Interstate 5 bridge will be allowed an incidental catch necessary to harvest the commercial share of Willamette river stock as defined in the Oregon department of fish and wildlife Willamette river management plan plus fifty percent of the allowable surplus in excess of the two hundred thousand fish run size.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of fisheries for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to carry out the purposes of this act.