EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to allow fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting salmon listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This rule making implements federal court orders governing Washington's relationship with treaty Indian tribes, federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon, and Washington fish and wildlife commission policy guidance for Columbia River fisheries.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 232-28-61900P; and amending WAC 232-28-619.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.130, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.
Other Authority: United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2005-2007 Interim Management Agreement For Upriver Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, Coho & White Sturgeon (May 11, 2005) (Doc. No. 2407); Northwest Gillnetters Ass'n v. Sandison, 95 Wn.2d 638, 628 P.2d 800 (1981); Washington fish and wildlife commission policies concerning Columbia River fisheries; 40 Stat. 515 (Columbia River compact).
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: Washington and Oregon jointly regulate Columbia River fisheries under the congressionally ratified Columbia River compact. Four Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River. The treaties preempt state regulations that fail to allow the tribes an opportunity to take a fair share of the available fish, and the states must manage other fisheries accordingly. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). A federal court order sets the current parameters for sharing between treaty Indians and others. United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2005-2007 Interim Management Agreement For Upriver Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, Coho & White Sturgeon (May 11, 2005) (Doc. No. 2407).
Some Columbia River Basin salmon and steelhead stocks are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued biological opinions under 16 U.S.C. § 1536 that allow for some incidental take of these species in treaty and nontreaty Columbia River fisheries. The Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife commissions have developed policies to guide the implementation of these biological opinions in the states' regulation of nontreaty fisheries.
Columbia River nontreaty fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure compliance with federal court orders, the Endangered Species Act, and commission guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. Representatives from the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and take public testimony when considering proposals for new emergency rules. WDFW and ODFW then adopt regulations reflecting agreements reached.
The upriver spring Chinook run is tracking to exceed the preseason forecast of 78,500 fish. With a projected run of this size, additional opportunity for sport fisheries in the Columbia River is available. Allowable ESA impacts remain on the guideline. The spring Chinook fishery in the area from I-5 Bridge to Bonneville Dam and from Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam is open through June 15. The action of the June 5, 2007, hearing, in effect, opens the area from Tongue Point/Rocky Point upstream to McNary Dam for retention of hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead. The summer season and fall season fisheries (beginning June 16) are in place until permanent rules become effective in August 2007. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent regulations.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, 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: June 5, 2007.
Loreva M. Preuss
for Jeff Koenings
Director
Columbia River:
1) From the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to I-5 Bridge (except for those waters closed under permanent regulations): Salmon and steelhead: immediately through June 15, 2007. Daily limit, 6 salmon, of which no more than 2 may be adult salmon. Release all wild chinook, wild coho, sockeye and chum. Minimum size, 12 inches. Daily limit, 2 trout; release wild steelhead and wild cutthroat. Minimum size, 12-inches.
2) From the I-5 Bridge upstream to Bonneville Dam (except for those waters closed under permanent regulations): Salmon and steelhead: June 6 through June 15, 2007. Daily limit, 6 salmon, of which no more than 2 may be adult salmon. Release all wild chinook, wild coho, sockeye and chum. Minimum size, 12 inches. Daily limit, 2 trout; release wild steelhead and wild cutthroat. Minimum size, 12-inches.
3) From Tower Island power lines in Bonneville Pool upstream to McNary Dam, (except for those waters closed under permanent regulations): Salmon, steelhead and shad: Open June 6 through June 15, 2007. Daily limit, 6 salmon, of which no more than 2 may be adult salmon. Release all wild Chinook, sockeye and chum. Minimum size, 12 inches. Daily limit, 2 trout; release wild steelhead. Minimum size, 12-inches.
a) For the mainstem Columbia River salmon and steelhead fishery upstream of the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line, effective through June 15, 2007, salmon and steelhead required to be released may not be totally removed from the water, except by anglers fishing from vessels thirty feet or longer as shown on their state registration or Coast Guard documentation.
4) From a true north-south line through Buoy 10, to a line between Rocky Point in Washington to Tongue Point in Oregon: Salmon: Release chinook from August 1 through August 22, 2007.
5) From the Rocky Point - Tongue Point line to Bonneville Dam: Salmon: Release adult chinook July 1 through July 31, 2007.
6) Camas Slough: Waters of the Columbia River downstream from the mouth of the Washougal River, north of Lady Island, and downstream of the Highway 14 Bridge at the upstream end of Lady Island: Open when the adjacent mainstem Columbia or Washougal rivers are open to fishing for salmon. Daily limit: same as most the liberal regulation of either area.
[]
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 232-28-61900P | Exceptions to statewide rules -- Columbia River. (07-86) |