WSR 12-10-076

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 12-73 -- Filed May 1, 2012, 4:53 p.m. , effective May 1, 2012, 4:53 p.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-619.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020.

     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: The department is in the process of adopting permanent rules that are necessary to implement the personal-use fishing plans agreed to with resource comanagers at the North of Falcon proceedings. These emergency rules are necessary to comply with agreed-to management plans.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: May 1, 2012.

Philip Anderson

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 232-28-61900G   Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules -- 2012 North of Falcon eastern Washington rivers and Columbia River.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 232-28-619, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to violate the following provisions, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:

     1. Columbia River:

     North Jetty: Barbed hooks allowed for salmon 7 days per week when Marine Area 1 or Buoy 10 are open for salmon.

     a. From the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco to Priest Rapids Dam, except Ringold Spring Creek (Hatchery Creek): Salmon: Open June 16 through July 31. Daily limit 6 fish of which no more than 2 may be adult hatchery Chinook. Release wild Chinook.

     b. Ringold Area Bank Fishery waters (from WDFW markers 1/4 mile downstream from the Ringold wasteway outlet, to WDFW markers 1/2 mile upstream from Spring Creek): Trout and salmon fishing closed immediately through June 15. From June 16 until further notice, same rules as the adjoining Columbia River.

     c. From Priest Rapids Dam to Wells Dam: All Species: Anglers in possession of a valid two-pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing from July 1 through August 31. Salmon: Open July 1 until further notice. Daily limit 6 Chinook and 6 sockeye only. Of the 6 Chinook, no more than 3 may be adult Chinook, and of these 3 adult Chinook, only 1 may be a wild adult Chinook.

     d. From Wells Dam to Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster: All Species: Anglers in possession of a valid two-pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing from July 16 through August 31. Salmon: Open July 16 until further notice. Daily limit 6 Chinook and 6 sockeye only. Of the 6 Chinook, no more than 3 may be adult Chinook, and of these 3 adult Chinook, only 1 may be a wild adult Chinook.

     e. From Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster to Chief Joseph Dam: All Species: Anglers in possession of a valid two-pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing from July 1 through August 31. Salmon: Open July 1 until further notice. Daily limit 6 Chinook and 6 sockeye only. Of the 6 Chinook, no more than 3 may be adult Chinook, and of these 3 adult Chinook, only 1 may be a wild adult Chinook.

     2. Cowlitz River (Lewis County):

     From Lexington Bridge Drive in Kelso upstream to the Highway 505 Bridge in Toledo:

     All Species: Anglers in possession of a valid two-pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing.

     3. Klickitat River (Klickitat County):

     From mouth to Fisher Hill Bridge: When anti-snagging rule is in effect, only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.

     4. Lewis River (Clark County):

     From railroad bridge near Kuhns Road upstream to mouth of East Fork Lewis: Anglers in possession of a valid two pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing.

     5. Lewis River, North Fork (Clark/Skamania counties):

     From mouth to Johnson Creek: Anglers in possession of a valid two pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing.

     6. Little White Salmon River (Skamania County):

     Drano Lake (waters downstream of markers on point of land downstream and across from Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery): All Species: Anglers in possession of a valid two-pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing from May 12 through June 30.

     (a) White Salmon River (Klickitat/Skamania counties): From county road bridge below powerhouse to Northwestern Lake Road Bridge: Closed waters.

     (b) White Salmon River (Klickitat/Skamania counties): From Northwestern Lake Road Bridge to 400 feet below Big Brother's Falls at River Mile 16: Closed waters: from Big Brother's Falls downstream 400 feet. All game fish: Effective first Saturday in June, catch and release except up to 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained. Selective gear rules in effect.

     7. Okanogan River (Okanogan County): Salmon: Open July until further notice. Daily limit 6 Chinook and 6 sockeye only. Of the 6 Chinook, no more than 3 may be adult Chinook, and of these 3 adult Chinook, only 1 may be a wild adult Chinook.

     8. Similkameen River (Okanogan County):

     From the mouth to Enloe Dam: Salmon: Open July 1 until further notice. Daily limit 6 Chinook and 6 sockeye only. Of the 6 Chinook, no more than 3 may be adult Chinook, and of these 3 adult Chinook, only 1 may be a wild adult Chinook.

     9. Wind River (Skamania County):

     From mouth to 400 feet below Shipherd Falls: Salmon and Steelhead: Open immediately through July 31. Fishing for trout (except hatchery steelhead) is closed. Anglers in possession of a valid two pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing immediately through June 30.

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