[Order 19-263—Filed October 17, 2019, 5:15 p.m., effective October 18, 2019]

Effective Date of Rule: October 18, 2019.

Purpose: Amend recreational salmon rules for the Columbia River.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-06000Z; and amending WAC 220-312-060.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

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 rule reopens recreational coho fishing from Tongue Point to The Dalles Dam. Opportunity to target hatchery coho is available in the Columbia River mainstem. Impacts to listed steelhead and Chinook are expected to be minimal and within allowed impact limits. This rule is consistent with action taken at the joint state hearing held on October 16, 2019. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: October 17, 2019.

WAC 220-312-06000BFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-060, effective October 18, 2019:

(1) From a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through Red Buoy 44 to red navigation marker 2 at Tongue Point on the Oregon bank to Bonneville Dam: Salmon and steelhead: Effective October 18 through October 31, 2019: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.

(2) From Bonneville Dam to the Hood River Bridge: Salmon and steelhead:

(a) Effective October 18 through October 31: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adult may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.

(b) Effective November 1 through December 31, 2019: Closed.

(3) Hood River Bridge to the Dalles Dam: Salmon and steelhead:

(a) Effective October 18 through October 31: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adult may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than coho.

(b) Effective November 1 through December 31, 2019: Closed.

(4) From the Dalles Dam to the Hwy. 395 Bridge (Pasco/Kennewick): Salmon and Steelhead: Effective immediately through December 31, 2019: Closed

(5) From Hwy. 395 Bridge (Pasco/Kennewick) to the Old Hanford townsite powerline crossing:

(a) Salmon: Effective immediately through October 31, 2019: Daily limit 6, up to 1 adult may be retained.

(b) Steelhead: Effective immediately through December 31, 2019: Closed.

(6) From the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster upstream to the Highway 17 Bridge near Bridgeport; salmon; effective immediately until further notice:

(a) Daily limit 6.

(b) No more than 2 adult Chinook may be retained.

(d) Anglers who possess a valid two-pole endorsement may fish for salmon with two lines.

Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective October 18, 2019:

Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia (19-234)