EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: February 1, 2011.
Purpose: Amend personal use fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-619.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020.
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: The 2010-2011 forecast of wild steelhead returning to the Skagit River system is well below the spawning goal. These closures will reduce the incidental hooking mortalities of wild steelhead. Puget Sound wild steelhead populations are listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: January 25, 2011.
Philip Anderson
Director
(1) Skagit River mainstem: From the mouth to the Hwy. 530 Bridge at Rockport: Closed to all fishing, effective February 1, 2011.
(2) Skagit River: From the Hwy. 530 Bridge at Rockport to the mouth of the Cascade River: Closed to all fishing, effective February 16, 2011.
(3) Skagit River: From the mouth of the Cascade River to the Gorge powerhouse at Newhalem: Closed to all fishing, effective February 1, 2011.
(4) Sauk River: From the mouth to the Whitechuck River: Closed to all fishing, effective February 1, 2011.
(5) Cascade River: From the mouth to the Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge: Closed to all fishing, effective February 16, 2011.
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