EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to provide for treaty Indian fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting salmon listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This rule making implements federal court orders governing Washington's relationship with treaty Indian tribes and federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-32-05100W; and amending WAC 220-32-051.
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 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546); Puget Sound Gillnetters Ass'n v. Moos, 92 Wn.2d 939, 603 P.2d 819 (1979); State v. James, 72 Wn.2d 746, 435 P.2d 521 (1967); 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; and that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.
Reasons for this Finding: Sets a 2.5 day treaty Indian fishing period for the 2009 fall season. Harvest of Upriver Bright chinook and Group B steelhead is expected to remain within the allocation and guidelines of the 2008-2017 management agreement. Rule is consistent with action of the Columbia River compact on May 26 and September 25, 2009. Conforms state rules with tribal rules. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.
New regulations for 2009 include fisheries that are described in the MOA between Washington State and the Yakama Nation. Yakama Nation tribal members will be allowed to fish for subsistence purposes within a specific area of the Washington shoreline below Bonneville Dam when open for enrolled Yakama Nation members under lawfully enacted Yakama Nation tribal subsistence fisheries. Sales will be allowed when the open fishery is concurrent with either commercial gillnet openings or platform gear in Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H). Sales of fish caught in this fishery (below Bonneville Dam) are consistent with mainstem Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H) allowable sales, with the exception of sturgeon (which may not be sold or kept for subsistence purposes in the fishery below Bonneville Dam).
The Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River and inherent sovereign authority to regulate their fisheries. Washington and Oregon also have some authority to regulate fishing by treaty Indians in the Columbia River, authority that the states exercise jointly under the congressionally ratified Columbia River compact. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). The tribes and the states adopt parallel regulations for treaty Indian fisheries under the supervision of the federal courts. Some salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal ESA.
Columbia River fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure consistency with court orders and ESA guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. As required by court order, the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and invite tribal participation when considering proposals for new emergency rules affecting treaty fishing rights. Sohappy, 302 F. Supp. at 912. WDFW and ODFW then adopt regulations reflecting agreements reached.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1; 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: September 28, 2009.
Philip Anderson
Director
1. Mainstem Columbia River above Bonneville Dam
a) SEASON: 6:00 AM September 29 through 6:00 PM October 1, 2009
b) AREA: Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H).
c) GEAR: Gillnet, no minimum mesh size restriction.
2. Mainstem Columbia River above Bonneville Dam
a) SEASON: Immediately until further notice.
b) AREA: Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H).
c) GEAR: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line.
3. Columbia River Tributaries above Bonneville Dam
a) SEASON: Immediately until further notice, and only during those days and hours when the tributaries listed below are open under lawfully enacted Yakama Nation tribal subsistence fishery regulations for enrolled Yakama Nation members, and have either commercial gillnet openings or allow platform/hook and line gear in Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H).
b) AREA: White Salmon and Klickitat rivers.
c) GEAR: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line.
4. Mainstem Columbia River below Bonneville Dam
a) SEASON: Immediately until further notice, and only under the conditions in the Memo of Agreement (MOA) titled "2007 Memorandum of Agreement Between the Yakama Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Regarding Tribal Fishing Below Bonneville Dam" the area below Bonneville Dam is open for commercial sales only for enrolled Yakama Nation members and only during those times that commercial sales are allowed in Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H).
b) AREA: (SMCRA) 1E On the Washington shoreline from 600 feet below the fish ladder at the Bonneville Dam North shore powerhouse, downstream to Beacon Rock (bank fishing only).
c) GEAR: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line, consistent with Yakama Nation regulations.
5. SANCTUARIES: Standard river mouth and dam sanctuaries applicable to these gear types, including the standard Spring Creek Hatchery sanctuary, described as: Those waters of the Columbia River extending to midstream at right angles to the thread of the Columbia River between points one-half mile upstream from the eastern shoreline to one and one-half miles downstream from the western shoreline of the mouth of Spring Creek.
6. ALLOWABLE SALES: Chinook, coho, steelhead, sockeye, walleye, carp, yellow perch, catfish, bass and shad may be sold or retained for subsistence. Sturgeon may not be sold, Sturgeon between 43-54 inches in fork length in The Dalles and John Day pools (SMCRA 1G, 1H) may be retained for subsistence. Sturgeon between 38-54 inches in fork length in the Bonneville pool (SMCRA 1F) may also be retained for subsistence. Sturgeon caught below Bonneville Dam may NOT be retained and may NOT be sold. Fish may NOT be sold on USACE Property below Bonneville Dam, but may be caught and transported off USACE Property for sale.
7. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS: 24-hour quick reporting required for Washington wholesale dealers, pursuant to WAC 220-69-240.
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The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 220-32-05100W | Columbia River salmon seasons above Bonneville Dam. (09-216) |