WSR 24-11-072
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 24-70—Filed May 14, 2024, 5:11 p.m., effective May 25, 2024]
Effective Date of Rule: May 25, 2024.
Purpose: This emergency rule is needed to close recreational fishing in much of the Snohomish River system.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-312-040.
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 necessary to close fishing in much of the Snohomish River system. Limited allowable take of wild Chinook in the Snohomish system necessitates strict controls to conserve impacts for fall in-river fisheries. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: May 14, 2024.
Amy H. Windrope
for Kelly Susewind
Director
[NEW SECTION]
WAC 220-312-04000FFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Puget Sound.
Effective May 25, 2024, until further notice, provisions of WAC 220-312-040 regarding recreational fishing seasons for the Snohomish River system shall be modified as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-040 not addressed herein, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule remain in effect:
(1) The following waters are closed to all fishing May 25, 2024, until further notice:
(a) Cherry Creek, from mouth upstream
(b) Raging River, from mouth upstream
(c) Skykomish River, from mouth to Hwy. 2 Bridge
(d) Skykomish River, North Fork, from mouth upstream to Bear Creek Falls
(e) Skykomish River, South Fork, from mouth to 600' downstream of Sunset Falls Fishway
(f) Snohomish River, from mouth to confluence of Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers
(g) Snoqualmie River, from mouth to Snoqualmie Falls
(h) Sultan River, from mouth upstream
(i) Tolt River, from mouth to confluence of North and South forks
(j) Wallace River, from mouth to 200' upstream of water intake of salmon hatchery
(2) The following waters are closed to all fishing from May 25 through June 14, 2024 and from July 11, 2024, until further notice:
Skykomish River, from Hwy. 2 Bridge to confluence of North and South forks.
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.