WSR 19-15-042
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 19-155—Filed July 11, 2019, 3:57 p.m., effective July 16, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: July 16, 2019.
Purpose: Amend recreational salmon fishing rules in areas of the upper Columbia, Entiat, and Chelan rivers.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-06000Q; and amending WAC 220-312-060 and 220-312-050.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, 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: This rule is needed to open recreational salmon fisheries in areas of the upper Columbia, Entiat, and Chelan rivers. Forecasts of hatchery summer Chinook to Entiat and Chelan Falls hatchery programs indicate broodstock needs will be met and surplus hatchery Chinook are available for harvest. Removal of summer Chinook in the Entiat River will also help achieve conservation objectives for spring Chinook on the spawning grounds. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 11, 2019.
James B. Scott, Jr.
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-06000RFreshwater exceptions to statewide rulesColumbia
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-060, it is unlawful to violate the following provisions, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
(1) From Buoy 10 upstream to Megler-Astoria Bridge; salmon and steelhead open August 1 through August 20:
(a) Night closure.
(b) Daily limit 2.
(c) No more than 1 Chinook may be retained.
(d) Release all salmon and steelhead except Chinook and hatchery coho.
(2) From Megler-Astoria Bridge to a projected line from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through Red Buoy 44 to the navigation light at Tongue Point on the Oregon Bank; salmon and steelhead:
(a) Open immediately through July 31, 2019:
(i) Night closure.
(ii) Daily limit 1.
(iii) Release all salmon and wild steelhead.
(b) Open August 1 through August 20, 2019:
(i) Night closure.
(ii) Daily limit 2.
(iii) No more than 1 Chinook may be retained.
(iv) Release all salmon and steelhead except Chinook and hatchery coho.
(3) From a projected line from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through Red Buoy 44 to the navigation light at Tongue Point on the Oregon Bank to Hood River Bridge; salmon and steelhead:
(a) Open immediately through July 31:
(i) Night closure.
(ii) Daily limit 1.
(iii) Release all salmon and wild steelhead.
(b) Open August 1 through August 20:
(i) Night closure.
(ii) Daily limit 1.
(iii) Release all salmon and steelhead except Chinook and hatchery coho.
(4) From Hood River Bridge to John Day Dam; salmon and steelhead:
(a) Open immediately through July 31:
(i) Night closure.
(ii) Daily limit 1.
(iii) Release all salmon and wild steelhead.
(b) Salmon and steelhead open August 1 through August 20:
(i) Night closure.
(ii) Daily limit 1.
(iii) Release all salmon and steelhead except Chinook and coho.
(5) From John Day Dam upstream to Hwy 395 at Pasco, WA; salmon and steelhead:
(a) Open immediately through July 31:
(i) Night closure.
(ii) Daily limit 1.
(iii) Release all salmon and wild steelhead.
(b) Salmon and steelhead open August 1 through August 20:
(i) Night closure.
(ii) Daily limit 1.
(iii) Release all salmon and wild steelhead except Chinook and coho.
(6) From Hwy 395 Bridge at Pasco, WA upstream to Priest Rapids Dam: Salmon and steelhead closed immediately through August 15.
(7) From the upstream line of Rocky Reach Dam to the boundary markers 400' below the spawning channel discharges (on Chelan County side) and the fish ladder (on Douglas County side) at Wells Dam; salmon:
(a) Open July 16 through October 15, 2019.
(b) Daily limit 6.
(c) No more than 2 adult Chinook may be retained.
(d) Release wild adult Chinook, sockeye, and coho.
(e) Anglers who possess a valid two-pole endorsement may fish for salmon with two lines.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000KFreshwater exceptions to statewide rulesEastside.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-050, it is unlawful to violate the following provisions, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
(1) Chelan River: From the mouth (railroad bridge) to the Chelan PUD safety barrier below the powerhouse; salmon:
(a) Open one hour before official sunrise July 16 to one hour after official sunset on October 15, 2019.
(b) Daily limit 6.
(c) No more than 2 adult Chinook may be retained.
(d) Release wild adult Chinook, sockeye, and coho.
(2) Entiat River: From the mouth (railroad bridge) to the boundary markers located approximately 1,500' upstream of the upper Roaring Creek Road Bridge (immediately downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery); salmon:
(a) Open one hour before official sunrise on July 16 to one hour after official sunset on September 30, 2019.
(b) Daily limit 6.
(c) Release sockeye and coho.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective July 16, 2019:
WAC 220-312-06000Q
Freshwater exceptions to statewide rulesColumbia (19-147)