Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: Amend personal use rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 232-28-61900G; and amending WAC 232-28-619.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.240.

     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: The upriver fishing boundary on the Okanogan River open to the harvest of all game fish was incorrectly identified as the "Highway 97 Bridge at Malott." The correct location is the "Highway Bridge at Malott." There is insufficient time to promulgate 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: February 2, 2006.

J. P. Koenings

Director

by Larry Peck

     (1) For purposes of this section, "adipose fin clipped steelhead" means steelhead with an adipose fin clip and a healed scar at the site of the fin clip, whether or not any other fins are clipped or a healed scar is present at any other fin position.

     (2) Columbia River from Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco to the Old Hanford townsite wooden powerline towers upstream of Ringold Hatchery. Daily limit may contain up to two adipose fin clipped steelhead.

     (3) Columbia River from Rocky Reach Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam - Open until further notice. Night closure in effect. Daily limit may contain up to two adipose fin clipped steelhead.

     (4) Okanogan River - Open until further notice, except closed from Lake Osoyoos Control Dam (Zosel Dam) downstream to one-quarter mile below railroad trestle. Selective gear rules except lawful to fish from motorized vessels. Night closure in effect. Gamefish: Open to all gamefish downstream from Highway Bridge at Malott. Daily limit may contain up to two adipose fin clipped steelhead. Above Highway Bridge at Malott, open only for adipose fin clipped steelhead. Daily limit may contain up to two adipose fin clipped steelhead.

     - Except: Effective March 1, 2006 until further notice, the area from the Highway 97 Bridge at Omak to a line across the river 500 feet above the mouth of Omak Creek, closed to fishing.

     (5) Similkameen River - Mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam - Open until further notice. Selective gear rules. Night closure in effect. All species: Release all fish except up to two adipose fin clipped steelhead per day may be retained and whitefish may be retained. Whitefish gear rules do not apply.

     (6) Methow River - Open until further notice. Mouth (Highway 97 Bridge) upstream to the second powerline crossing, and from the first Highway 153 Bridge north of Pateros to the confluence with the Chewuch River. Selective gear rules except lawful to fish from motorized vessels. Night closure in effect. All species: Release all fish except up to two adipose fin clipped steelhead per day may be retained and whitefish may be retained. Whitefish gear rules do not apply.

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     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 232-28-61900G

Exceptions to statewide rules -- Columbia, Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen rivers. (06-15)