II
Calendar No. 610
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2430
[Report No. 111–324]
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 3, 2009
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
September 27, 2010
Reported by Mr. Bingaman, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
AN ACT
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.
Findings; purpose
Findings
Congress finds the following:
The North Cascades complex contains 245 mountain lakes, of which 91 have been historically stocked with fish.
In many cases, the stocking of fish in these lakes dates back to the 1800s.
This practice has been important to the economy of the area because of the recreational opportunities it creates.
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.
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.
An Environmental Impact Statement completed by the National Park Service recommends continued stocking of up to 42 of the lakes that have historically been stocked with fish.
Purpose
The purpose of this Act 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.
Stocking of certain lakes in North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
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.
Conditions
The following conditions shall apply to stocking of lakes under subsection (a):
The Secretary is authorized to allow stocking in not more than 42 of the 91 lakes which have historically been stocked with fish.
The Secretary shall only stock fish that are—
native to the watershed; or
functionally sterile.
The Secretary shall coordinate the stocking of fish with the State of Washington.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the North
Cascades National Park Service Complex Fish Stocking Act
.
Definitions
In this Act:
North Cascades National Park Service Complex
The term North Cascades National Park
Service Complex
means collectively the North Cascades National Park,
Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation
Area.
Plan
The
term plan
means the document entitled North Cascades
National Park Service Complex Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement
and dated June 2008.
Secretary
The
term Secretary
means the Secretary of the Interior.
Stocking of certain lakes in the North Cascades National Park Service Complex
In general
Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary shall authorize the stocking of fish in lakes in the North Cascades National Park Service Complex.
Conditions
In general
The Secretary is authorized to allow stocking of fish in not more than 42 of the 91 lakes in the North Cascades National Park Service Complex that have historically been stocked with fish.
Native nonreproducing fish
The Secretary shall only stock fish that are—
native to the slope of the Cascade Range on which the lake to be stocked is located; and
nonreproducing, as identified in management alternative B of the plan.
Considerations
In making fish stocking decisions under this Act, the Secretary shall make use of relevant scientific information, including the plan and information gathered under subsection (c).
Required coordination
The Secretary shall coordinate the stocking of fish under this Act with the State of Washington.
Research and Monitoring
The Secretary shall—
continue a program of research and monitoring of the impacts of fish stocking on the resources of the applicable unit of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex; and
beginning on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act and every 5 years thereafter, submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes the results of the research and monitoring under paragraph (1).
September 27, 2010
Reported with an amendment