Rules Category: Eastern Washington and Columbia Region Freshwater
Species covered in proposed rule • Trout
Rule to Change: Coweeman River (Cowlitz Co.)
from mouth to Mullholland Creek
from Mullholland Creek upstream
New Rule Proposal: Redefine the open fishing areas:
from mouth to Baird Creek
from Baird Creek upstream
Why the change is needed: This rule change creates additional opportunity adding about five miles of additional fishing area to harvest hatchery early winter steelhead. The resulting increase in harvest rate of hatchery steelhead will reduce the potential for interaction of hatchery and wild steelhead.
Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change: This rule change was proposed by the Steelhead Management Work Group which has been meeting with Region 5 staff to develop watershed Steelhead Management Plans
Describe their support and/or concerns:
Group is very much in favor of this proposal.
Submitted by: DAMMERS, WOLF — ,
Date submitted: 06/13/2012
WDFW Rule Proposal Recommendation
Recommended for Public Comment Reference ID: DFW927523
Rule Change Recommendation Short Title Increase open angling area on Coweeman River
Rules Category Eastern Washington and Columbia Region Freshwater
Type of Rule Change Proposal Conservation
County or Location Information Cowlitz County
Short Description Extend area open to fishing approximately 5 miles, from mouth to Baird Creek.
Explanation Adds an additional five miles of area open to hatchery winter steelhead fishing, thereby increasing the harvest rate of hatchery winter steelhead and reducing the number of hatchery steelhead that may stray onto the spawning grounds and negatively impact wild winter steelhead.
