WSR 14-15-005
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 14-152Filed July 2, 2014, 3:01 p.m., effective July 2, 2014, 3:01 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-310-20000L; and amending WAC 220-310-200.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 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: This emergency rule sets a second summer white sturgeon retention period in Bonneville Reservoir. A total of four hundred sixty-eight fish remain available for harvest from the one thousand one hundred fish annual guideline. Conforms Washington state rules with Oregon state rules. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 2, 2014.
Joe Stohr
for Philip Anderson
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-310-20000M Exceptions to statewide rulesColumbia River sturgeon.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-310-200:
(1) July 11 through July 12 and July 18 through July 19, 2014, it is permissible to retain white sturgeon between 38-inches minimum and 54-inches maximum fork length caught in those waters of the Columbia River and in all adjacent Washington tributaries from Bonneville Dam upstream to the sturgeon spawning Sanctuary boundary located 1.8 miles downstream of The Dalles Dam and described in subsection (3) of this section.
(2) Effective immediately until further notice, except for the specific dates described in subsection (1) of this section, it is unlawful to retain sturgeon caught in those waters of the Columbia River and tributaries from Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam. Catch and release is permissible except from May 1 through July 31, 2014 in the sturgeon spawning Sanctuary located from The Dalles Dam downstream 1.8 miles as described in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) Effective immediately through July 31, 2014, sturgeon spawning sanctuary in effect: angling for sturgeon is prohibited from The Dalles Dam downstream 1.8 miles to a line from the east (upstream) dock at the Port of The Dalles boat ramp straight across to a marker on the Washington shore.
(4) Effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to retain white sturgeon caught in those waters of the Columbia River and in all adjacent Washington tributaries from John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 220-310-20000L
Exceptions to statewide rulesColumbia River sturgeon. (14-135)