WSR 18-12-024 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 18-107—Filed May 25, 2018, 11:25 a.m., effective May 25, 2018, 11:25 a.m.] Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing. Purpose: Amend recreational fishing regulations for the Cowlitz, Lewis, White Salmon, and Wind rivers. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-03000S; and amending WAC 220-312-030. 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 emergency rule is needed because forecast returns of summer steelhead have improved for 2018, making night closures and reduced daily limits currently unnecessary in the lower reaches of the Cowlitz, Lewis and White Salmon rivers. Additionally, the lower Wind River is typically closed to night angling between March 16 and June 30; this rule change corrects an error in WAC. 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 Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: May 24, 2018. Joe Stohr Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-03000T Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Southwest.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-03000R and WAC 220-312-030, effective immediately through June 30, 2018:
(1) Cowlitz River (Cowlitz/Lewis Counties) from the boundary markers at the mouth to Lexington Drive Bidge:
(a) From June 16 through June 30, 2018:
(i) It is lawful to fish 24 hours/day, except for sturgeon.
(ii) Steelhead daily limit is 3 hatchery steelhead.
(2) Lewis River (Clark/Cowlitz County):
(a) From the mouth to East Fork:
(i) Salmon:
(A) Daily limit 6, minimum length 12 inches
(B) Only 1 adult salmon may be retained
(C) Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook
(ii) From June 16 through June 30, 2018:
(A) It is lawful to fish 24 hours/day, except for sturgeon.
(B) Steelhead daily limit is 3 hatchery steelhead.
(b) From the mouth of East Fork to Johnson Creek:
(i) Salmon:
(A) Daily limit 6, minimum length 12 inches
(B) Only 1 adult salmon may be retained
(C) Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook
(ii) Steelhead daily limit is 3 hatchery steelhead.
(c) From Johnson Creek to the overhead powerlines below Merwin Dam:
(i) Fishing from a floating device is prohibited.
(ii) Salmon:
(A) Daily limit 6, minimum length 12 inches
(B) Only 1 adult salmon may be retained
(C) Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook
(iii) Steelhead daily limit is 3 hatchery steelhead.
(3) White Salmon River (Klickitat/Skamania Counties) from mouth to the county road bridge below the former location of the powerhouse:
(a) From June 16 through June 30, 2018:
(i) It is lawful to fish 24 hours/day, except for sturgeon
(ii) Salmon and Steelhead:
(A) Daily limit is 2 salmon or 2 steelhead or 1 of each.
(B) Release all wild salmon and wild steelhead.
(4) Wind River (Skamania County) from the mouth upstream to 400' below Shipherd Falls fish ladder effective immediately through June 30, 2018:
(a) Night Closure
(b) Salmon and steelhead:
(i) Daily limit is 2 salmon or 2 steelhead or 1 of each.
(ii) Release wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Reviser's note: The spelling error 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 immediately:
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