WSR 09-21-062

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 09-240 -- Filed October 15, 2009, 1:40 p.m. , effective October 15, 2009, 1:40 p.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to provide for treaty Indian fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting salmon 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 and federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-32-05100Y; and amending WAC 220-32-051.

     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); Puget Sound Gillnetters Ass'n v. Moos, 92 Wn.2d 939, 603 P.2d 819 (1979); State v. James, 72 Wn.2d 746, 435 P.2d 521 (1967); 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; and that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.

     Reasons for this Finding: Discontinues sales of fish caught from platform or hook and line fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River after 6:00 p.m. October 16, 2009. The mainstem platform and hook and line fishery will remain open for subsistence use. Continues to allows [allow] sales of fish caught during the Yakama Nation tributary fisheries in Drano Lake, White Salmon and Klickitat rivers. Harvest of upriver bright chinook and Group B steelhead is expected to remain within the allocation and guidelines of the 2008-2017 management agreement. Rule is consistent with action of the Columbia River compact on October 2 and October 12, 2009. Conforms state rules with tribal rules. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.

     New regulations for 2009 include fisheries that are described in the MOA between Washington state and the Yakama Nation. Yakama Nation tribal members will be allowed to fish for subsistence purposes within a specific area of the Washington shoreline below Bonneville Dam when open for enrolled Yakama Nation members under lawfully enacted Yakama Nation tribal subsistence fisheries. Sales will be allowed when the open fishery is concurrent with either commercial gillnet openings or platform gear in Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H). Sales of fish caught in this fishery (below Bonneville Dam) are consistent with mainstem Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H) allowable sales, with the exception of sturgeon (which may not be sold or kept for subsistence purposes in the fishery below Bonneville Dam).

     The Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River and inherent sovereign authority to regulate their fisheries. Washington and Oregon also have some authority to regulate fishing by treaty Indians in the Columbia River, authority that the states exercise jointly under the congressionally ratified Columbia River compact. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). The tribes and the states adopt parallel regulations for treaty Indian fisheries under the supervision of the federal courts. Some salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal ESA.

     Columbia River fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure consistency with court orders and ESA guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. As required by court order, the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and invite tribal participation when considering proposals for new emergency rules affecting treaty fishing rights. Sohappy, 302 F. Supp. at 912. 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: October 15, 2009.

Lori Preuss

for Philip Anderson

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-32-05100Z   Columbia River salmon seasons above Bonneville Dam.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-32-050, WAC 220-32-051, WAC 220-32-052, and WAC 220-32-058, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful for a person to take or possess salmon, steelhead, walleye, shad, carp, yellow perch, catfish, bass or sturgeon for commercial purposes in Columbia River Salmon Management Catch Reporting Areas (SMCRA) 1E, 1F, 1G, and 1H, except as provided in the following subsections; and the same prohibitions apply in the White Salmon River, and Klickitat River and Drano Lake (Little White Salmon River), except that individuals possessing treaty fishing rights under the Yakima, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce treaties may fish for salmon, steelhead, walleye, shad, carp, yellow perch, catfish, bass or sturgeon under the following provisions, pursuant to lawfully enacted tribal rules:

     1. Mainstem Columbia River above Bonneville Dam

     a) SEASON: Immediately until 6:00 PM October 16, 2009.

     b) AREA: Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H).

     c) GEAR: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line.

     2. Columbia River Tributaries above Bonneville Dam

     a) SEASON: Immediately until further notice, and only during those days and hours when the tributaries listed below are open under lawfully enacted Yakama Nation tribal subsistence fishery regulations for enrolled Yakama Nation members.

     b) AREA: White Salmon and Klickitat rivers and Drano Lake (Little White Salmon River)

     c) GEAR: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line. Gill nets may only be used in Drano Lake (no mesh restriction, 150-foot length restriction).

     d) Only fish that are caught during open Yakama Nation tributary fisheries may be sold. Fish that are sold outside a one-mile radius from the Klickitat Falls may be sold by Yakama Nation Transfer Permit only. Transfer Permits are also required for sales of fish from Drano Lake. Transfer Permits may be obtained from the Yakama Nation Tribal Council. Pursuant to Section 32.18.07 of the Yakama Law and Order Code, steelhead caught in the Klickitat River may not be sold.

     3. Mainstem Columbia River below Bonneville Dam

     a) SEASON: Immediately until 6:00 PM October 16, 2009, and only under the conditions in the Memo of Agreement (MOA) titled "2007 Memorandum of Agreement Between the Yakama Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Regarding Tribal Fishing Below Bonneville Dam," the area below Bonneville Dam is open for commercial sales only for enrolled Yakama Nation members and only during those times that commercial sales are allowed in Zone 6 (SMCRA 1F, 1G, 1H).

     b) AREA: (SMCRA) 1E: On the Washington shoreline from 600 feet below the fish ladder at the Bonneville Dam North Shore powerhouse, downstream to Beacon Rock (bank fishing only).

     c) GEAR: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line, consistent with Yakama Nation regulations.

     4. SANCTUARIES: Standard river mouth and dam sanctuaries applicable to these gear types.

     5. ALLOWABLE SALES: Chinook, coho, steelhead, sockeye, walleye, carp, yellow perch, catfish, bass and shad may be sold or retained for subsistence. Sturgeon may not be sold, Sturgeon between 43-54 inches in fork length in The Dalles and John Day pools (SMCRA 1G, 1H) may be retained for subsistence. Sturgeon between 38-54 inches in fork length in the Bonneville pool (SMCRA 1F) may also be retained for subsistence. Sturgeon caught below Bonneville Dam may NOT be retained and may NOT be sold. Fish may NOT be sold on USACE Property below Bonneville Dam, but may be caught and transported off USACE Property for sale. Fish caught in the mainstem Columbia River (SMCRA 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H) after 6:00 PM October 16 may not be sold but may be retained for subsistence. Steelhead caught in the Klickitat River may not be sold.

     6. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS: 24-hour quick reporting required for Washington wholesale dealers, pursuant to WAC 220-69-240.

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     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.
REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 220-32-05100Y Columbia River salmon seasons above Bonneville Dam. (09-234)

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