Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The 2025 legislature reduced general fund state dollars and correspondingly reestablished the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (CRSSE) to expire January 1, 2028. The net effect of the 2025 legislature cutting agency general fund state dollars and reestablishing the CRSSE was to maintain monitoring and activities in the Columbia River basin through 2027. This rule making temporarily reestablishes the CRSSE as it existed prior to its expiration on July 1, 2019.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 220-220-211 Columbia River endorsement.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-01-104 on December 16, 2025.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: February 25, 2026.
Anglers 15 years of age and older must purchase and have a valid Columbia River endorsement in their possession to fish for salmon or steelhead in the following waters:
(1) In the mainstem Columbia River from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line to Chief Joseph Dam;
(2) Deep River (Wahkiakum County);
(3) Grays River (Wahkiakum County) from the mouth to the mouth of the South Fork:
(a) Grays River, West Fork;
(b) Grays River, South Fork;
(c) Grays River, East Fork;
(4) Skamokawa River (Wahkiakum County);
(5) Elochoman River (Wahkiakum County);
(6) Mill Creek (Cowlitz County);
(7) Abernathy Creek (Cowlitz County), including all tributaries;
(8) Germany Creek (Cowlitz County), including all tributaries;
(9) Coal Creek (Cowlitz County) from the mouth to 400 feet below the falls;
(10) Cowlitz River (Cowlitz County) from the mouth to the mouth of Ohanapecosh and Muddy forks:
(a) Olequa Creek;
(b) Lacamas Creek (Lewis County);
(c) Blue Creek;
(d) Mill Creek (Lewis County);
(e) Mayfield Lake;
(f) Tilton River from the mouth to West Fork;
(g) Tilton River, East Fork;
(h) Tilton River, North Fork;
(i) Tilton River, South Fork;
(j) Tilton River, West Fork;
(k) Lake Scanewa (Cowlitz Falls Reservoir);
(l) Cispus River (Lewis County) mouth to North Fork;
(m) Cowlitz River, Clear Fork and Muddy Fork;
(11) Coweeman River (Cowlitz County);
(12) Toutle River (Cowlitz County) from the mouth to forks:
(a) Toutle River, North Fork;
(b) Toutle River, South Fork;
(c) Green River (Cowlitz County) from the mouth to Miner's Creek;
(13) Kalama River (Cowlitz County) from the mouth to Kalama Falls; Gobar Creek;
(14) Lewis River (Clark/Cowlitz counties) from the mouth to Merwin Dam:
(a) Lewis River, East Fork;
(b) Cedar Creek (Clark County);
(15) Salmon Creek (Clark County) from the mouth to 182nd Ave. Bridge;
(16) Camas Slough (Clark County) (waters outside the mouth of the Washougal River, north of Lady Island, and downstream of the Highway 14 Bridge at the upstream end of Lady Island);
(17) Washougal River (Clark County):
(a) Little Washougal;
(b) Washougal River West, North Fork;
(18) Hamilton Creek (Skamania County);
(19) Rock Creek (Skamania County) from the mouth to the falls at approximately river mile 1;
(20) Wind River (Skamania County);
(21) Drano Lake (Skamania County) (Little White Salmon River downstream of the markers on point of land downstream and across from Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery and upstream of Highway 14 Bridge);
(22) White Salmon River (Klickitat/Skamania counties) from the mouth to Big Brother Falls at river mile 16;
(23) Klickitat River (Klickitat County);
(24) Walla Walla River (Walla Walla County) and tributaries;
(25) Mill Creek (Walla Walla County);
(26) Touchet River (Columbia/Walla Walla counties) from the mouth to the confluence of North Fork and South Fork:
(a) Touchet River, North Fork;
(b) Touchet River, South Fork;
(c) Touchet River, Wolf Fork;
(27) Grande Ronde River (Asotin County);
(28) Snake River mainstem; Palouse River (Whitman County) (below the falls);
(29) Tucannon River (Columbia/Garfield counties);
(30) Yakima River (Benton/Yakima/Kittitas counties):
(a) From the mouth to the Mabton-Sunnyside Rd. (SR 241) Bridge;
(b) From the Interstate 82 Bridge at Union Gap to Roza Dam;
(31) Wenatchee River from the mouth to Tumwater Dam;
(32) Chelan River (Chelan County) from the mouth (railroad bridge) to Chelan PUD safety barrier below the powerhouse;
(33) Icicle River (Chelan County) from the mouth to Icicle Irrigation Peshastin District footbridge;
(34) Lake Wenatchee (Chelan County);
(35) Entiat River (Chelan County) from the mouth to Entiat Falls;
(36) Methow River (Okanogan County) from the mouth to Foghorn Dam;
(37) Okanogan River (Okanogan County);
(38) Lake Osoyoos (Okanogan County);
(39) Similkameen River (Okanogan County) mouth to Enloe Dam.