View the CR-102 Rule Proposal and WAC Text

 The weak year-classes of wildcaught-larval (WCL) white sturgeon produced between 2011-2016 (year-classes of concern) that were reared and released as part of the conservation aquaculture program in Lake Roosevelt will begin entering the existing sturgeon harvest slot (5363 inches Fork Length) in 2025. This group of sturgeon is present in low abundance but has high conservation value. At the same time, there is a need to maintain a harvest sturgeon fishery in Lake Roosevelt to remove over-represented year-classes of hatchery sturgeon produced from 2001-2010. The department must undertake multiple rule changes over the next several years for the Lake Roosevelt sturgeon fishery to maintain the harvest of target year-classes of sturgeon while managing the fishery to minimize harvest impacts to WCL year-classes of concern.