WSR 26-03-023
AGENDA
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Filed January 12, 2026, 3:20 p.m.]
Following is the semi-annual rule-making agenda for the department of fish and wildlife (department) for the January-June 2026 time period. The following agenda briefly describes both the current and anticipated rule-making activities for the department. This agenda has been compiled and filed as required under RCW 34.05.314. If you have any questions regarding this proposed agenda, please contact Scott Bird at 360-790-7561 or Rules.Coordinator@dfw.wa.gov.
The prospective dates on the agenda are estimates of anticipated rule-making actions. Any errors in this agenda do not affect the rules and rule-making notices filed with the office of the code reviser and published in the Washington State Register.
SEMI-ANNUAL RULES DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
January - June 2026
WAC Chapter
Rule Title or Subject
Agency Contact and Program
Current Status
Anticipated Date of Adoption
Short Description
220-340-130 and 220-340-170
2025 Annual oyster drill
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
December 6, 2023
CR-101 filing WSR 23-24-102
Spring 2026
The department is considering updates to beach designations (oyster drill restricted areas) according to shellfish pest status.
220-340
2025 Puget Sound nonspot shrimp pot fishery license and other administrative rule changes
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
September 16, 2025
CR-101 filing WSR 25-19-095
To be determined (TBD)
The department is considering rule changes to convert Puget Sound commercial shrimp trawl licenses to the newly established Puget Sound commercial nonspot shrimp pot licenses following the passage of SSB 5076 in the 2025 legislative session. The department plans on making additional administrative updates to rules on this topic.
TBD
2026 Clam and oyster season
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
October 22, 2025
CR-101 filing WSR 25-21-145
June 2026
The department seeks to amend a rule affecting the coastal recreational bottom fish fishery so that it is consistent with regulations adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
220-410
Columbia River commercial logbooks
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
January 3, 2024
CR-101 filing WSR 24-02-093
TBD
This project seeks to collect data about fishing catch and release information from the Columbia River commercial fisheries for management purposes.
220-310 and 220-312
2025 Coastal steelhead and gamefish
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
August 18, 2025
CR-102 filing WSR 25-14-071
Winter 2026
Current regulations include fishing seasons for steelhead, trout, and gamefish that are not supported by population status, conservation need, and tribal comanager agreements. These regulations are intended to align fishing opportunity with the conservation need for coastal steelhead and will decrease the need for future emergency regulations.
220-220
2025 Reinstatement of Columbia River salmon and steelhead (CRSSE)
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
December 16, 2025
CR-105 filing WSR 26-01-104
March 2026
During the 2025 legislative session, the legislature passed HB 2003 which caused the reinstatement of the CRSSE endorsement program. The rule creating CRSSE was previously in effect and then repealed in 2019. The purpose of this expedited rule making is to reinstate the rule authorizing CRSSE.
220-312 and 220-313
2026 North of Falcon recreational fisheries
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
January 2026 intending CR-101 filing
June 2026
The department seeks to make amendments resulting from stakeholder recommendations made during the 2025 North of Falcon process.
220-354 and 220-301
2026 North of Falcon Puget Sound commercial fisheries
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
January 2026 intending CR-101 filing
June 2026
The department seeks to make amendments resulting from stakeholder recommendations made during the 2025 North of Falcon process.
220-354
2026 North of Falcon coastal commercial fisheries
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
January 2026 intending CR-101 filing
June 2026
The department seeks to make amendments resulting from stakeholder recommendations made during the 2025 North of Falcon process.
220-312-030
Mineral Lake season change
Kelly Henderson
Kelly.Henderson@dfw.wa.gov
Fish Program
Petition approved November 14, 2025
April 2026
This petition request to change the season closure date of Mineral Lake in Lewis County from September 30th to October 31st was approved by the fish and wildlife commission.
220-440
Livestock compensation
Jim Brown
Jim.Brown@dfw.wa.gov
Wildlife Program
October 28, 2025
CR-101 filing WSR 25-22-030
June 2026
The department will amend rules in chapter 220-440 WAC to comprehensively clarify and improve the processing livestock compensation claims.
220-400-050 and 220-415-100
2026 Season setting
Heather Bonagofski
Heather.Bonagofski@dfw.wa.gov
Wildlife Program
October 17, 2024
CR-101 filing WSR 24-21-094
April 2026
The department seeks to amend rules to either expand or decrease recreational hunting opportunities, while maintaining sustainable game populations.
220-640
Deleterious wildlife
Heather Bonagofski
Heather.Bonagofski@dfw.wa.gov
Wildlife Program
October 28, 2025
CR-101 filing WSR 25-22-032
Fall 2026
The department seeks to update and clarify the requirements for individuals who possess, sell, import, propagate, transfer, or maintain live, deleterious, and native wildlife. Based upon the emergence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) across northwest states, the department needs to actively prevent the spread of this disease in all wildlife populations, including deleterious exotic wildlife.
TBD
2026 Endangered, threatened, and sensitive wildlife
Heather Bonagofski
Heather.Bonagofski@dfw.wa.gov
Wildlife Program
October 17, 2024
CR-101 filing WSR 24-21-094
April 2026
The department is considering amending rules to clarify endangered, threatened, and sensitive wildlife species classification, listing, recovery procedures, and definitions and other related rule changes as needed.
220-500
Motorized use on designated roads
Heather Bonagofski
Heather.Bonagofski@dfw.wa.gov
Wildlife Program
Winter/Spring 2025 intended CR-101 filing
TBD
The department seeks to clarify existing rules in regard to appropriate use of motorized vehicles on both its owned managed roads.
220-500
Recreational easements on private lands
Shane Belson
Shane.belson@dfw.wa.gov
Wildlife Program
August 30, 2022 CR-101 filing WSR 22-18-037
TBD
The department seeks to amend terms used in chapter 220-500 WAC to improve clarity and consistency.
220-413-020 and 220-413-100
Wildlife tagging and mandatory reporting clarifications
Heather Bonagofski
Heather.Bonagofski@dfw.wa.gov
Wildlife Program
December 4, 2025
CR-105 filing WSR 26-01-012
March 2026
The department seeks to amend two rules in chapter 220-413 WAC. For WAC 220-413-020, the department seeks to clarify for the public the requirements for how to notch a transport tag given the new option for electronic tagging through the MyWDFW mobile application. For WAC 220-413-100, the department seeks to clarify for the public when and where a CWD sample should be taken and submitted after a deer, elk, or moose has been harvested.
22[0]-610
Classification of previously unclassified species
Heather Bonagofski
Heather.Bonagofski@dfw.wa.gov
Wildlife Program
May 5, 2025
CR-101 filing WSR 25-10-069
Fall 2026
The department is considering amendments to rules that classify wildlife to further classify previously unclassified species.
New 220-670
Fishway and screening rules
Gabrielle Stillwater
Gabrielle.stillwater@dfw.wa.gov
Habitat Program
June 17, 2020
CR-101 filing WSR 20-13-094
TBD
The department is creating a new chapter (chapter 220-670 WAC) that defines inadequate fishways and water diversions across the state and compliance actions for inadequate structures.
220-660
Climate change considerations: Marine shoreline stabilization and climate adapted water crossings
Theresa Nation
Theresa.Nation@dfw.wa.gov
Habitat Program
February 28, 2025
CR-101 filed WSR 25-06-051
TBD
The department seeks to amend rules to incorporate climate change response/sea level rise considerations in its hydraulics project approval rules for marine shoreline stabilization projects.
220-220-080
2025 Deer license fee correction
Scott Bird
Scott.bird@dfw.wa.gov
Director's Office
December 3, 2025
CR-105 filing of WSR 25-24-104
March 2026
The department removed certain sections of WAC 200-220-080 which should have remained. This rule project restores those edited sections and clarifies the correct pricing for combination deer licenses.
220-305 and 220-300
Washington state department of transportation (WSDOT) ferry terminals correction
Thomas Knoll
Thomas.Knoll@dfw.wa.gov
Enforcement Program
November 18, 2025
CR-105 filing WSR 25-23-090
February 2026
The department needs to develop rules that prohibit gillnetting, purse seine fishing, shrimping, and crabbing near WSDOT ferry terminals.
220-440-260
Correction to WAC 220-440-260
Thomas Knoll
Thomas.Knoll@dfw.wa.gov
Enforcement Program
December 18, 2025
CR-105 filing WSR 26-01-143
March 2026
The department is clarifying its reference to RCW in the current rule that prohibits the feeding of wildlife.
220-400 and 220-4
[no further information supplied by agency]
2026 Hunting rules updates
Thomas Knoll
Thomas.Knoll@dfw.wa.gov
Enforcement Program
Spring 2026 intending CR-101 filing date
Fall 2026
The department is revising and updating a number of hunting rules to improve their enforceability and clarity for the public.
Scott Bird
Rules Coordinator