WSR 26-10-003
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 26-62—Filed April 23, 2026, 7:26 a.m., effective May 1, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: May 1, 2026.
Purpose: This emergency rule requires release of wild Chinook jacks and wild coho jacks in Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-312-020.
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 change is needed to meet harvest management agreements with comanagers as a result of the 2026 North of Falcon preseason fishery planning process. There is a conservation concern for wild summer Chinook and wild summer coho. Permanent rules allow retention of wild jack salmon, which can reduce abundance and diversity of the wild population. Allowing retention of only hatchery (adipose fin-clipped) jacks reduces impacts to wild salmon. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: April 23, 2026.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-02000DFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Coast.
Effective May 1, 2026, until further notice, the following provisions of WAC 220-312-020, regarding recreational salmon seasons for Quillayute River and Sol Duc River shall be modified as described in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-020 not addressed in this section, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:
(a) Quillayute River (Clallam Co.), from Olympic National Park boundary upstream to confluence of Sol Duc and Bogachiel rivers:
Salmon: Daily limit 2. Release wild Chinook, wild coho, and sockeye.
(b) Sol Duc River (Clallam Co.), From mouth to the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc Hatchery:
Salmon: Daily limit 2. Release wild Chinook, wild coho, and sockeye.