109 HR 5732 IH: To direct the Secretary of the Interior to continue U.S. House of Representatives 2006-06-29 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5732 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 29, 2006 Mr. Hastings of Washington (for himself, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Dicks, and Miss McMorris) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to continue stocking fish in certain lakes in the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

1.

Findings; purpose

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)The North Cascades complex contains 245 mountain lakes, of which 91 have been historically stocked with fish. (2)In many cases, the stocking of fish in these lakes dates back to the 1800s. (3)This practice has been important to the economy of the area because of the recreational opportunities it creates. (4)During congressional hearings on the designation of the North Cascades National Park, the Department of the Interior indicated that the practice of fish stocking would be continued if the area became a unit of the National Park Service system. (5)Since designation of the National Park in 1968, the stocking of certain lakes has continued under various agreements between the National Park Service and the State of Washington. (6)A recent 12-year university research effort found no statistically significant long-term ecological impacts in lakes where fish populations are non-reproducing in low densities. (b)

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to clarify the continued authority of the National Park Service to allow the stocking of fish in certain lakes in the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

2.

Stocking of certain lakes in North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

(a)

In general

The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, shall authorize the stocking of fish in lakes in the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. (b)

Conditions

The following conditions shall apply to stocking of lakes under subsection (a): (1)The Secretary shall stock fish only with the concurrence of and in coordination with the State of Washington. (2)The Secretary shall only select lakes to be stocked from the 91 lakes that have historically had fish stocking. (3)The Secretary shall only stock fish that are— (A)native to the watershed; or (B)functionally sterile.