WSR 15-15-138 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-204—Filed July 17, 2015, 3:32 p.m., effective July 18, 2015] Effective Date of Rule: July 18, 2015.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-310-195.
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: Fishing restrictions are necessary as the afternoon water temperatures in rivers and creeks are approaching or exceeding the upper limit for survival of trout and salmon. Most of these waters do not benefit from cold water releases from the Bureau of Reclamation storage reservoirs. These waters receive significant fishing effort that will subject trout to handling stress or injury caused by elevated water temperature and extreme low flow conditions. At this time, the Ahtanum Creek and Teanaway River basins are at critical low flow condition and require a complete fishing closure to protect vulnerable fish stocks. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 17, 2015.
Joe Stohr
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-310-19500B Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-310-195, effective July 18, 2015, until further notice, currently open fisheries for game fish in the Yakima River basin are modified as follows:
(1) Ahtanum Creek, including North and Middle Forks: Closed
(2) Naches River from Tieton River to Bumping River/Little Naches River: Closed 2:00 p.m. until midnight.
(3) Rattlesnake Creek (mainstem): Closed 2:00 p.m. until midnight.
(4) Little Naches River: Closed.
(5) Teanaway River, including West, Middle and North Forks: Closed
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