WSR 20-01-156
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 19-309—Filed December 17, 2019, 4:07 p.m., effective December 19, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: December 19, 2019.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules for freshwater in Puget Sound.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-312-040.
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 is needed to close portions of the listed rivers to the retention of hatchery steelhead. Whitehorse Ponds, Wallace River, Reiter Ponds and Tokul Creek hatcheries do not currently have enough broodstock on hand to reach early winter steelhead egg take goals. These closures are necessary to ensure hatchery broodstock goals are met. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: December 17, 2019.
Kelly Susewind
Director
[NEW SECTION]
WAC 220-312-04000IFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Puget Sound.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-040, effective December 19, 2019, until further notice the following waters are closed to the retention of hatchery steelhead.
(1) Stillaguamish River, from the mouth upstream to confluence of the North Fork and South Fork Stillaguamish Rivers
(2) North Fork Stillaguamish River, from the mouth upstream to Swede Heaven Bridge.
(3) Snohomish River, from the mouth upstream to confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers.
(4) Skykomish River, from the mouth upstream to the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish and South Fork Skykomish rivers.
(5) Wallace River.
(6) Snoqualmie River, from the mouth upstream to Snoqualmie Falls.
(7) Tokul Creek.
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.