WSR 26-15-033
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 26-125—Filed July 7, 2026, 2:38 p.m., effective July 9, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: July 9, 2026.
Purpose: This emergency rule opens an Entiat River recreational salmon season.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-312-050.
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 also needed to open the Entiat River recreational Chinook seasons. On July 6, 2026, the U.S. v. Oregon technical advisory committee downgraded the Columbia River summer Chinook run size to 38,600. This downgrade also decreased the recreational harvest allocation to the point of being unfeasible to open a mainstem Columbia River fishery. While the harvest allocation is insufficient to offer mainstem fishing opportunities, the department of fish and wildlife can open the Entiat River which typically harvests between 100-400 fish. This fishery also has a conservation benefit of removing hatchery-origin summer Chinook from the spawning grounds to reduce impacts to Endangered Species Act-listed spring Chinook.
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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 7, 2026.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000UExceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Effective July 9, 2026, until further notice, the following provisions of WAC 220-312-050 regarding Entiat River recreational salmon seasons shall be modified as described in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-050 not addressed in this section, unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:
Entiat River (Chelan County); from mouth (railroad bridge) to Mad River Road Bridge (near Ardenvoir):
(a) Daily limit 6 salmon. Release all salmon other than Chinook.
(b) Night closure in effect.