May 28, 2008
Action: Open the lower North Fork Tieton River (Yakima Co.) between Rimrock Lake and Clear Lake Dam to fishing.
Effective dates: June 1 through August 15
Species affected: All game fish (with the exception of bull trout)
Location: From Rimrock Lake to the 400-foot "closed waters" boundary downstream of Clear Lake Dam, including that portion of the river that flows through the dry lakebed when Rimrock Lake (reservoir) is not full.
Reasons for action: A punctuation error during the last rule change cycle changed the legal interpretation of the rule and inadvertently closed the lower North Fork Tieton River to all fishing downstream of Clear Lake Dam. This was not the intent of the permanent rule change adopted by the Fish & Wildlife Commission in February. The 2008-09 fishing rule pamphlet reflects this error and shows the river downstream of Clear Lake Dam is closed. This emergency rule change temporarily corrects the problem for the 2008 fishing season until a permanent "housekeeping" correction can be adopted during the 2009-10 "minor" rule change cycle.
Other information: Closed Waters: within 400' of Clear Lake Dam and the Clear Lake spillway channel. Statewide min. size and daily limit for all game fish, with the exception of bull trout. Retention of bull trout is prohibited; all bull trout must be released immediately and may not be removed from the water.
Information contact: Eric Anderson, District 8 Biologist (509-457-9301) or John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager (509-457-9330)
Effective dates: June 1 through August 15
Species affected: All game fish (with the exception of bull trout)
Location: From Rimrock Lake to the 400-foot "closed waters" boundary downstream of Clear Lake Dam, including that portion of the river that flows through the dry lakebed when Rimrock Lake (reservoir) is not full.
Reasons for action: A punctuation error during the last rule change cycle changed the legal interpretation of the rule and inadvertently closed the lower North Fork Tieton River to all fishing downstream of Clear Lake Dam. This was not the intent of the permanent rule change adopted by the Fish & Wildlife Commission in February. The 2008-09 fishing rule pamphlet reflects this error and shows the river downstream of Clear Lake Dam is closed. This emergency rule change temporarily corrects the problem for the 2008 fishing season until a permanent "housekeeping" correction can be adopted during the 2009-10 "minor" rule change cycle.
Other information: Closed Waters: within 400' of Clear Lake Dam and the Clear Lake spillway channel. Statewide min. size and daily limit for all game fish, with the exception of bull trout. Retention of bull trout is prohibited; all bull trout must be released immediately and may not be removed from the water.
Information contact: Eric Anderson, District 8 Biologist (509-457-9301) or John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager (509-457-9330)