WSR 13-21-047
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 13-268—Filed October 11, 2013, 10:00 a.m., effective October 16, 2013]
Effective Date of Rule: October 16, 2013.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-619.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 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: Hatchery-origin steelhead in excess of desired escapement are forecasted to return to the upper Columbia River. Opening the steelhead fishery will reduce the number of excess hatchery-origin steelhead and consequently increase the proportion of natural-origin steelhead on the spawning grounds while also allowing additional fishing opportunity. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: October 11, 2013.
Philip Anderson
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 232-28-61900J Exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia, Methow, Okanogan, Similkameen, Wenatchee and Icicle rivers
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 232-28-619, the following provisions are in effect one hour before official sunrise on October 16, 2013, until further notice. Unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
(1) Mandatory retention of adipose fin clipped steelhead, daily limit two (2) hatchery steelhead, 20 inch minimum size. Hatchery steelhead are identified by a missing adipose fin with a healed scar in its location.
(2) Adipose present steelhead must be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
(3) Night closure and selective gear rules remain in effect, except bait is permissible on mainstem Columbia River from Rock Island Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.
(4) Release all steelhead with a floy (anchor) tag attached and/or one or more round 1/4 inch in diameter holes punched in the caudal (tail) fin.
(a) It is permissible to fish for steelhead in the Columbia River from Rock Island Dam to the boundary markers below Wells Dam and from the Highway 173 Bridge in Brewster to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.
(b) It is permissible to fish for steelhead in the Wenatchee River from the mouth to the Wenatchee River at the Icicle Road Bridge, including the Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam.
(c) It is permissible to fish for steelhead in the the Methow River from the mouth to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop. Fishing from a floating device is prohibited from the second powerline crossing (1 mile upstream from the mouth) to the first Hwy 153 Bridge (4 miles upstream from the mouth).
(d) It is permissible to fish for steelhead in the Okanogan River from the mouth upstream to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville.
(e) Effective November 1, 2013, it is permissible to fish for steelhead in the Similkameen River from the mouth upstream to 400 feet below Enloe Dam.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.