WSR 19-19-085
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 19-222—Filed September 17, 2019, 4:31 p.m., effective September 20, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: September 20, 2019.
Purpose: Amend recreational salmon fishing rules for the Columbia River.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-06000V; and amending WAC 220-312-060.
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 reduce the adult salmon daily limit for a portion of the Columbia River. Fall Chinook salmon are returning to the Hanford Reach well below the forecast and escapement goal. Reduction of the daily limit will allow the fishery to remain open for a longer duration under the current harvest management guidelines, by lessening impacts to upriver bright fall Chinook in the Hanford Reach. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 17, 2019.
James B. Scott, Jr.
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-06000XFreshwater exceptions to statewide rulesColumbia
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-060, effective September 20, 2019:
(1) From Buoy 10 upstream to a line projected from the Warrior Rock lighthouse through Red Buoy 4 to the marker atop the piling dolphin located at the downstream end of Bachelor Island on the Washington shore: salmon and steelhead: Effective immediately through September 30, 2019: Release all steelhead.
(2) From a line projected from the Warrior Rock lighthouse through Red Buoy 4 to the marker atop the piling dolphin located at the downstream end of Bachelor Island on the Washington shore to Bonneville Dam; salmon and steelhead:
(a) Effective immediately through September 30, 2019: Release all steelhead.
(b) Effective immediately until further notice:
(i) Daily limit 6.
(ii) No more than 2 adults may be retained.
(iii) Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.
(3) From Bonneville Dam to the Dalles Dam: salmon and steelhead: Effective immediately through September 30, 2019: Release all steelhead.
(4) From Hwy. 395 Bridge (Pasco/Kennewick) to the Old Hanford townsite powerline crossing; salmon; effective September 20 through October 31, 2019: Daily limit 6, up to 1 adult may be retained.
(5) From the Old Hanford townsite powerline crossing to Priest Rapids Dam; salmon; effective September 20 through October 15, 2019: Daily limit 6, up to 1 adult may be retained.
(6) 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; effective immediately through October 15, 2019:
(a) Daily limit 6.
(b) No more than 2 adult Chinook may be retained.
(c) Release wild adult Chinook, sockeye, and coho.
(d) Anglers who possess a valid two-pole endorsement may fish for salmon with two lines.
(7) From the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster upstream to the Highway 17 Bridge near Bridgeport; salmon; effective immediately until further notice:
(a) Daily limit 6.
(b) No more than 2 adult Chinook may be retained.
(c) Release wild adult Chinook, sockeye, and coho.
(d) Anglers who possess a valid two-pole endorsement may fish for salmon with two lines.
Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
REPEALER
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed effective September 20, 2019:
WAC 220-312-06000V
Freshwater exceptions to statewide rulesColumbia (19-210)
Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.