Effective Date of Rule: August 26, 2012, 9:00 p.m.

     Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to allow nontreaty commercial fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting fish 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, 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 220-33-01000P; and amending WAC 220-33-010.

     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); 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: Sets two mainstem fishing periods. Select area sites remain open as scheduled. The seasons are consistent with the 2008-2017 interim management agreement. Salmon and sturgeon are available for harvest during fall season fisheries. The regulation is consistent with compact action of July 26, and August 24, 2012. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent rules.

     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 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546).

     Some Columbia River Basin salmon and steelhead stocks are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal ESA. On May 5, 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a biological opinion under 16 U.S.C. § 1536 that allows for some incidental take of these species in treaty and nontreaty Columbia River fisheries governed by the 2008-2017 U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement. The Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife commissions have developed policies to guide the implementation of such 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 ESA, 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.

     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: August 24, 2012.

Philip Anderson

Director

     1. Mainstem Columbia River

     a. SEASON:

     9 PM Sunday August 26 to 6 AM Monday August 27, 2012

     9 PM Tuesday August 28 to 6 AM Wednesday August 29, 2012

     b. AREA: SMCRA 1D, 1E. The deadline at the lower end of SMCRA 1D is defined as a straight line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore easterly through the green navigation buoy #1 and continuing to the Washington shore.

     c. GEAR: Drift gillnet only. 9-inch minimum mesh size.

     Nets fished any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the end of the net opposite the boat is required.

     d. SANCTUARIES: Washougal and Sandy Rivers.

     e. ALLOWABLE POSSESSION: Salmon and white sturgeon. A maximum of five (5) white sturgeon may be possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday).

     2. Blind Slough/Knappa Slough Select Area.

     a. SEASON: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights August 27 through October 26, 2012. Open hours are 7 PM to 7 AM through September 14, and 6 PM to 8 AM thereafter.

     b. AREA: Blind Slough and Knappa Slough. An area closure of an approximately 100-foot radius at the mouth of Big Creek is in effect. Concurrent jurisdiction waters include all areas in Knappa Slough and downstream of the Railroad Bridge in Blind Slough.

     c. GEAR: Gillnet. Monofilament gear is allowed. 9 3/4-inch maximum mesh size. Maximum net length of 100 fathoms. No weight restriction on lead line. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the lead line is allowed.

     Nets not specifically authorized for use in this fishery may be onboard the vessel if properly stored. Nets not lawful for use at that time and area may be onboard the boat if properly stored consistent with WAC 220-33-001.

     Nets fished any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the end of the net opposite the boat is required.

     d. ALLOWABLE POSSESSION: Salmon.

     3. Tongue Point/South Channel Select Area.

     a. SEASON: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights August 27 through October 26, 2012. Open 7 PM to 7 AM through September 14, and 4 PM to 10 AM thereafter.

     b. AREA: Tongue Point and South Channel. All waters in this fishing area are concurrent jurisdiction waters.

     c. GEAR: Gillnet. 6-inch maximum mesh.

     Tongue Point fishing area: Net length 250 fathoms maximum. Weight not to exceed two pounds on any one fathom. Fishers participating in the Tongue Point fishery may have onboard un-stored gillnets legal for the South Channel fishing area.

     South Channel area: Net length 100 fathoms maximum. No weight restriction on lead line. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the lead line is allowed.

     Nets not specifically authorized for use in this fishery may be onboard the vessel if properly stored consistent with WAC 220-33-001.

     Nets fished any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the end of the net opposite the boat is required.

     d. ALLOWABLE POSSESSION: Salmon.

     4. Deep River Select Area.

     a. SEASON: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from August 27 through October 19, 2012. Open 7 PM to 9 AM through September 14 and 4 PM to 9 AM thereafter.

     b. AREA: The Deep River Select Area. Concurrent jurisdiction waters extend downstream of the Highway 4 Bridge.

     c. GEAR: Gill net. Monofilament gear is allowed. 9 3/4-inch maximum mesh size through September 14 and 6-inch maximum mesh thereafter. Net length 100 fathoms maximum. No weight restriction on the lead line. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the lead line is allowed. Nets may not be tied off to stationary structures. Nets may not fully cross the navigation channel. It is unlawful to operate in any river, stream or channel any gill net gear longer than three-fourths the width of the river, stream, or channel. "River, stream, or channel width" is defined as bank-to-bank, where the water meets the banks, regardless of the time of tide or the water level. This emergency provision shall supersede the permanent regulation and all other regulations that conflict with it. All other provisions of the permanent regulation remain in effect (WAC 220-20-015(1)).

     Nets not specifically authorized for use in this fishery may be onboard the vessel if properly stored consistent with WAC 220-33-001

     Nets fished any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the end of the net opposite the boat is required.

     d. ALLOWABLE POSSESSION: Salmon.

     5. Quick Reporting: 24-hour quick-reporting required for Washington wholesale dealers, pursuant to WAC 220-69-240. When quick-reporting is required, Columbia River reports must be submitted within 24 hours of the closure of each fishing period. This quick-reporting requirement applies to all seasons described above (Columbia River and Select Areas).

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     Reviser's note: The unnecessary underscoring in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 9:00 p.m. August 26, 2012:

WAC 220-33-01000P

Columbia River season below Bonneville. (12-159)