WSR 17-14-053 EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 17-142—Filed June 28, 2017, 3:30 p.m., effective July 3, 2017, 6:00 a.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: July 3, 2017, 6:00 a.m.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to provide for treaty Indian fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting salmon listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This rule making implements federal court orders governing Washington's relationship with treaty Indian tribes and federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-359-02000A; and amending WAC 220-359-020.
Other authority: United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546); Northwest Gillnetters Ass'n v. Sandison, 95 Wn.2d 638, 628 P.2d 800 (1981); Washington fish and wildlife commission policies concerning Columbia River fisheries; 40 Stat. 515 (Columbia River Compact).
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: Allows the sale of fish caught in Zone 6 Columbia River tribal fisheries with platform and hook and line gear for the summer season. The sale of fish caught in Yakama Nation tributary fisheries is also allowed when open under Yakama Nation regulations. The area downstream of Bonneville Dam (SMCRA 1E1) is open to sales of fish when open under tribal regulations. Extends gillnet fishing during the summer season. The preseason forecast for summer Chinook is sixty-three thousand one hundred fish, and seventeen thousand one hundred harvestable fish are available to the treaty tribes. Fisheries are consistent with the 2008-2017 Management Agreement and the associated biological opinion. Rule is consistent with action of the Columbia River Compact on June 14 and June 28, 2017. Conforms state rules with tribal rules. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent regulations.
The Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River and inherent sovereign authority to regulate their fisheries. Washington and Oregon also have some authority to regulate fishing by treaty Indians in the Columbia River, authority that the states exercise jointly under the Congressionally-ratified Columbia River Compact. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). The tribes and the states adopt parallel regulations for treaty Indian fisheries under the supervision of the federal courts. A court order sets the current parameters. United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546). Some salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal ESA. On May 5, 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a biological opinion under 16 U.S.C. § 1536 that allow for some incidental take of these species in the fisheries as described in the 2008-2017 U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement. Columbia River fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure consistency with court orders and ESA guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. As required by court order, the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and invite tribal participation when considering proposals for new emergency rules affecting treaty fishing rights. Sohappy, 302 F. Supp. at 912. WDFW and ODFW then adopt regulations reflecting agreements reached.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, 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: June 28, 2017.
Joe Stohr
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-359-02000B Columbia River salmon seasons above Bonneville Dam.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-359-010, WAC 220-359-020, WAC 220-359-030 and WAC 220-359-090, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful for a person to take or possess salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, or yellow perch taken for commercial purposes in Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1E1, 1F, 1G, and 1H, and in the Wind River, Klickitat River, Drano Lake, Yakima River and Icicle Creek. However, those individuals possessing treaty fishing rights under the Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce treaties may fish for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, or yellow perch under the following provisions.
(1) Open Area: SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H (Zone 6):
(a) Season: 6:00 AM Monday July 3 to 6:00 PM Thursday July 6, 2017
6:00 AM Monday July 10 to 11:59 PM Monday July 31, 2017 and only during days and hours when allowed under lawfully enacted tribal fishery regulations and Oregon Fish and Wildlife regulations.
(b) Gear: Gillnets. 7-inch minimum mesh size.
(c) Allowable sale: Salmon, steelhead, shad, yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish, or carp. Sturgeon may not be sold, but sturgeon between 38-54 inches in fork length in the Bonneville Pool and sturgeon between 43-54 inches in fork length in The Dalles and John Day pools may be retained for subsistence purposes only. Live release of all oversize and under-size sturgeon is required.
(d) All sanctuaries for this gear type are in effect, except Spring Creek.
(2) Open Area: SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H (Zone 6):
(a) Season: Immediately to 11:59 PM Monday July 31, 2017
(b) Gear: Hoop nets, bag nets, dip nets, and rod and reel with hook and line.
(c) Allowable sale: Salmon, steelhead, shad, yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish, or carp. Sturgeon between 38-54 inches in fork length in the Bonneville Pool and sturgeon between 43-54 inches in fork length in The Dalles and John Day pools may be retained for subsistence purposes only. Live release of all oversize and under-size sturgeon is required.
(d) All sanctuaries for these gear types are in effect, except Spring Creek.
(3) Columbia River Tributaries upstream of Bonneville Dam:
(a) Season: Immediately until further notice, and only during those days and hours when the tributaries listed below are open under lawfully enacted Yakama Nation tribal subsistence fishery regulations for enrolled Yakama Nation members.
(b) Area: Wind River, Drano Lake, and Klickitat River.
(c) Gear: Hoop nets, bag nets, dip nets, and rod and reel with hook and line. Gill nets may only be used in Drano Lake.
(d) Allowable Sale: Salmon, steelhead, shad, yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish, or carp. Sturgeon between 38-54 inches fork length harvested in tributaries within Bonneville pool may not be sold but may be kept for subsistence purposes only. Live release of all oversize and under-size sturgeon is required.
(4) Open Area: SMCRA 1E1. Each of the four Columbia River treaty tribes has an MOA or MOU with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for tribal fisheries in the area just downstream of Bonneville Dam. Tribal fisheries in this area may only occur in accordance with the appropriate MOA or MOU specific to each tribe, and only within any specific regulations set by each tribe.
(a) Participants:
(i) Tribal members may participate under the conditions described in the 2007 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Yakama Nation (YN), in the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), in the 2010 MOU with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Spring Reservation (CTWS), and in the 2013 MOU with the Nez Perce Tribe.
(ii) Tribal members fishing below Bonneville Dam must carry an official tribal enrollment card.
(b) Season: Immediately through 11:59 PM July 31, 2017. Open only during those days and hours when allowed under lawfully enacted tribal subsistence fishery regulations for enrolled tribal members.
(c) Allowable gear: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook and line.
(d) Allowable Sales: Salmon, steelhead, shad, yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish, or carp. Sturgeon retention is prohibited for any purpose. Sale of platform or hook-and-line-caught fish is allowed. Sales may not occur on USACE property.
(5) 24-hour quick reporting is required as provided in WAC 220-352-180, for Washington wholesale dealers for all areas, except that all landings from treaty fisheries described above must be reported within 24-hours of completing the fish ticket.
(6) Sales of fish are allowed after open period concludes, as long as the fish sold were landed during the open period.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 6:00 a.m. July 3, 2017:
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