WSR 15-11-050 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-127—Filed May 15, 2015, 9:08 a.m., effective May 17, 2015] Effective Date of Rule: May 17, 2015.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-310-18500Y; and amending WAC 220-310-185.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 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: Hatchery returns have been strong to date on the Cowlitz River, Drano Lake, Kalama River and the Wind River. The hatchery broodstock goal is expected to be met or has been met and surplus hatchery origin fish are available for harvest. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: May 15, 2015.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-310-18500Y Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Southwest.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-310-185, it is unlawful to violate the following provisions, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
(1) Cowlitz River (Cowlitz/Lewis Co.): Effective May 17 until further notice, from the boundary markers at the mouth upstream to 400 feet or posted markers below the barrier dam:
(a) The salmon daily limit is 6 hatchery Chinook of which no more than 3 may be adults.
(b) Release wild Chinook.
(c) Anglers may fish with two poles with a valid Two Pole Endorsement from the Lexington Drive Bridge (Sparks Road Bridge) upstream to 400 feet or posted markers below the barrier dam.
(2) Kalama River (Cowlitz Co.): Effective May 17 until further notice, from the boundary makers at the mouth to 1,000 feet below the upper salmon hatchery, the salmon daily limit is 6 hatchery Chinook of which no more than 2 may be adults. Release wild Chinook.
(3) Wind River (Skamania Co): Effective May 17 through June 30 from the mouth (boundary line/markers) upstream to 800 yards downstream from Carson National Fish Hatchery except closed waters from 400 feet below to 100 feet above Shipherd Falls and from 400 feet to 100 feet above the coffer dam:
(a) The salmon and steelhead daily limit is 3 fish of which no more than 2 may be hatchery steelhead.
(b) Release wild steelhead.
(c) Release wild Chinook from Shipherd Falls downstream.
(d) The anti-snagging rule is in effect from the Highway 14 Bridge upstream. When the anti-snagging rule is in effect, only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.
(e) From the mouth (boundary line/markers) upstream to the Highway 14 Bridge, anglers may fish for salmon and steelhead with two poles with a valid Two Pole Endorsement. In addition, each angler aboard a vessel may deploy salmon and steelhead angling gear until the daily salmon/steelhead limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.
(f) Barbed hooks may be used.
(4) Drano Lake (Skamania Co.): Effective May 17 through June 30 downstream from markers on point of land downstream and across from Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery and upstream of the Highway 14 Bridge:
(a) The salmon and steelhead daily limit is 3 hatchery Chinook or hatchery steelhead of which no more than 2 may be hatchery steelhead.
(b) Release wild Chinook and wild steelhead.
(c) Barbed hooks may be used.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective August 1, 2015:
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