WAC 232-12-016   Nonnative aquatic species.  The following provisions apply to nonnative aquatic species except nonnative species in ballast water, which are provided for in chapter 220-77 WAC. The definitions of invasive species, prohibited aquatic animal species, regulated aquatic animal species, unregulated aquatic animal species, unlisted aquatic animal species and aquatic plant species as used in this section are the same as in RCW 77.08.010.

     (1) Request for designation of unlisted aquatic animal species prior to release. Unlisted nonnative aquatic animal species must be reviewed and designated for classification by the commission as either regulated aquatic animal species or unregulated aquatic animal species prior to approval for release into state waters. A request for classification of an unlisted nonnative aquatic animal species shall be treated as a petition to amend WAC 220-12-090, and made on the OFM-01 form. Upon receipt of a petition, the department shall initially classify the species as a prohibited species until the review is complete. In addition to the OFM-01 form, a person requesting classification must provide the following information in order to present a complete request for designation for classification:

     (a) Common and scientific name, reason for release, source of the animals proposed for release, and number of animals proposed for release.

     (b) Native range of the species, assessment of potential positive and negative impacts of the release, citation of available scientific literature on release of the species in other nonnative locales, known potential for displacement of native species, hybridization with or predation upon native species, and disease or parasite transmission.

     (c) Estimate of technical and economic feasibility of eradicating or controlling spread of the species once it is introduced into state waters.

     (2) Provisions applying to prohibited aquatic animal species.

     (a) Zebra mussels: It is unlawful to import live aquatic organisms, including plants, for release into state waters from any state or Canadian province east of the Continental Divide without each importation being accompanied by a zebra mussel-free certificate issued by the department and signed by the supplier of the aquatic organisms. The original receiver in the state of Washington of the shipment of aquatic organisms is required to retain the zebra mussel-free certificate for two years. Secondary receivers, while in possession of live aquatic organisms, are required to retain invoices or other records showing who was the original receiver.

     (b) Scientific research or display: The director may authorize, by prior written permit, a person to possess prohibited aquatic animal species for scientific research or display, provided:

     (i) Specimens are confined to a secure facility, defined as an enclosure that will prevent the escape or release of prohibited aquatic animal species into a natural watercourse, and specimens are inaccessible to wildlife or other animals that could transport prohibited aquatic animal species.

     (ii) Specimens are not transferred to any other facility without written approval by the director or designee.

     (iii) All zebra mussels are incinerated or chemically preserved at the conclusion of the project, and the enclosure, holding waters and all equipment are disinfected. All other prohibited aquatic animal species must be killed at the conclusion of the project and either chemically preserved or disposed of in a landfill.

     (iv) The permittee provides an annual report to the department, no later than January 31 of the following year, on a form provided by the department, describing the number, size and location of prohibited aquatic animal species enclosures and general nature of the research.

     (c) Monitoring and control programs: The director may authorize persons working within the scope and supervision of a department-sponsored monitoring and control program to capture, possess and destroy prohibited aquatic animal species, provided:

     (i) The persons have completed a mandatory training program and are certified by the department;

     (ii) The persons have a permit authorized by the director or designee in possession;

     (iii) All prohibited aquatic animal species are disposed of in accordance with the monitoring and control program; and

     (iv) Participants submit a report to the department within thirty days of any monitoring or control activity in accordance with the specifications outlined in the monitoring and control program.

     (d) Capture of prohibited species in state waters. Prohibited aquatic animal species that are captured in state waters and not immediately returned to the water from which they were captured must be killed before removing the prohibited aquatic animal species from within the riparian perimeter of the body of water.

     (e) It is lawful to possess dead vertebrate prohibited aquatic animal species taken from state waters, and it is lawful to possess chemically preserved nonvertebrate prohibited aquatic animal species from any source. No permit is required for possession under this subsection.

     (f) Prohibited aquatic animals held in commercial and personal possession prior to classification. A person who possessed a prohibited aquatic animal species prior to the time the species was classified as prohibited may continue to hold the animal or animals for the life of the animals, provided:

     (i) The person must maintain proof of possession prior to the classification.

     (ii) The animals may not be transferred to another owner within the state.

     (iii) The person must comply with all provisions of this section.

     (iv) The animals must be prevented from reproducing, or if prevention is impracticable, the progeny must be destroyed.

     (3) Infested waters.

     (a) The following bodies of waters are infested with invasive aquatic plants or prohibited aquatic animal species. In these waters:

     (i) It is unlawful to use aquatic animals from these waters for bait in the infested waters or any other waters.

     (ii) All aquatic vegetation must be removed from lines, nets, motors, and all other equipment when the equipment is removed from the infested waters.

     (iii) It is unlawful to transport water from these bodies of water, and bait containers, live wells, and bilges must be emptied before leaving the riparian perimeter of the body of water, except:

     (A) Water may be transported in emergencies, such as a fire emergency.

     (B) Water may be withdrawn and used under a water appropriation or public waters work permit issued by the department of ecology.

     (b) List of infested waters:

     Adams County: Herman and Hutchison lakes.

     Chelan County: Chelan, Cortez, Domke, Fish, Roses and Wapato lakes.

     Clallam County: Sutherland Lake.

     Clark County: Battleground, and Lacamas lakes, Klineline Pond, Caterpillar Slough, Columbia River adjacent to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

     Columbia, Franklin and Walla Walla counties: Herbert G. West Lake, Snake River.

     Cowlitz County: Kress and Silver lakes, Soho and Willow Grove sloughs.

     Ferry County: Twin Lake.

     Franklin County: Kahlotus and Sacajawea lakes, Scooteney Reservoir, Snake River.

     Grant County: Babcock Ridge, Banks, Billy Clapp, Burke, Caliche, Canal, Corral, Corral Southwest, Moses, Priest Rapids, Quincy, Stan Coffin, Warden, and Windmill lakes, unnamed potholes at Dodson Frenchman and Frenchman Hills Nos. 1 through 4, Evergreen and Potholes reservoirs, Rocky Ford Creek and Winchester Wasteway.

     Grays Harbor County: Duck and Failor lakes, Grays Harbor.

     Island County: Crockett and Lone lakes.

     Jefferson County: Crocker and Leland lakes.

     King County: Alice, Angle, Bass, Desire, Fenwick, Geneva, Green, Killarney, Lucerne, Meridian, Nielson (Holm), Otter (Spring), Phantom, Pine, Pipe, Sammamish, Sawyer, Shadow, Shady, Spring, Steel, Twelve, Union, Washington, and Wilderness lakes.

     Kitsap County: Buck, Horseshoe, Long, Mission, Square, Tahuya, and Wye lakes.

     Kittitas County: Lavendar and Mattoon lakes.

     Klickitat County: Celilo, Horsethief, and Spearfish lakes, Columbia River.

     Lewis County: Carlisle, Mayfield, Plummer, and Riffe lakes, Swofford Pond, Chehalis and Cowlitz rivers and the Interstate Avenue Slough.

     Mason County: Isabella, Island, Limerick, Mason, Spencer, and Trails End (Prickett) lakes.

     Okanogan County: Conconully, Green, Osooyoos, Palmer, Pearrygin, and Whitestone lakes, Okanogan River.

     Pacific County: Black, Island, Loomis, and O'Neil lakes, Willapa Bay.

     Pend Oreille County: Davis, Diamond, Fan, Horseshoe, Mashall, Nile, and Sacheen lakes, Little Spokane and Pend Oreille rivers.

     Pierce County: Bay, Clear, Harts, Hidden, Ohop, Rapjohn, Spanaway, Tapps, and Whitman lakes.

     San Juan County: Sportsman Lake.

     Skagit County: Beaver, Big, Campbell, Clear, Erie, Heart, Mcmurray, and Sixteen lakes.

     Skamania County: Coldwater and Drano lakes, Columbia River.

     Snohomish County: Goodwin, Meadow, Nina, Roesiger, Shoecraft, Silver, Stevens, and Swartz lakes.

     Spokane County: Eloika, Liberty, Long, Newman, and Silver lakes.

     Stevens County: Black, Deep, Gillette, Heritage, Loon, McDowell, Sherry, Thomas, and Waitts lakes, Long Lake Reservoir.

     Thurston County: Capitol, Hicks, Long, Munn, Scott, and Ski lakes, Black and Chehalis rivers.

     Wahkiakum County: Columbia River and Brooks Slough.

     Walla Walla County: Snake River.

     Whatcom County: Terrell and Whatcom lakes.

     Whitman County: Bryan and Lower Granite lakes, Snake River.

     Yakima County: Buena, Byron, Dog, and Freeway (Rotary) lakes, unnamed ponds at 12N - 19E - 20, Yakima River.

     (4) Aquaculture provisions. It is unlawful to fail to comply with the following provisions regarding aquaculture and waters containing prohibited aquatic animal species or invasive aquatic plant species.

     (a) When a natural body of water is designated by rule as infested, ongoing aquaculture operations in that body of water are restricted from transferring product, equipment or associated materials until such time as the operator of the aquaculture operation submits to the department a plan to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic plants and prohibited aquatic animal species, and has received approval from the department of such plan.

     (b) Artificial water basins found to be infested with prohibited aquatic animal species are required to have the water sterilized before continuing aquaculture operations, and any private sector cultured products in such waters must be killed before sale or transfer.

     (c) By permit from the department, water from bodies of water infested with invasive aquatic plants may be used in artificial water basins for aquaculture, provided that the water is treated to eliminate invasive aquatic plants prior to use.

     (5) Violations of this section involving invasive aquatic animal species is punishable under RCW 77.15.253.

     (6) Violations of this section involving invasive aquatic plants is punishable under RCW 77.15.290.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 04-01-096 (Order 03-312), § 232-12-016, filed 12/16/03, effective 1/16/04; 02-19-007 (Order 02-223), § 232-12-016, filed 9/5/02, effective 10/6/02.]