Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — Last night the House of Representatives passed legislation cosponsored by U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) to allow for the continued stocking of fish in the North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, and Ross Lake National Recreation Area in Washington state. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Doc Hastings (WA-04), passed the House by a voice vote, and must also pass the Senate before it could be signed into law.

Larsen entered the following remarks into the Congressional Record:

“Madame Speaker, I rise today to express my support for HR 2430, legislation which will allow for the continued stocking of trout in mountain lakes in the North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, and Ross Lake National Recreation Area in my home state of Washington.

“For over 100 years, sportsmen and women in the Pacific Northwest have stocked lakes in the North Cascades with trout early each summer and returned later in the year with family and friends to camp and fish. 

“Fish stocking brings not only recreational benefits, but also economic benefits for rural communities that rely on sportsmen and park visitors to sustain local businesses.

“The practice of fish stocking is supported by both the angling community and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Earlier this year, the North Cascades National Park issued an Environmental Impact Statement supporting the continued stocking of fish.

“However, a recent legal opinion issued by the National Parks Service threatens this decades-old tradition.  The Parks Service has determined that, without legal clarification from Congress, they will be unable to allow fish stocking in the future.

“HR 2430 would provide the Parks Service with the clarification it needs to continue to allow fish stocking.  This legislation will authorize the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the State of Washington, to allow sportsmen to stock native or functionally sterile trout in up to 42 alpine lakes in the North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, and Ross Lake National Recreation Area.

“I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan legislation to protect the tradition of fish stocking in and around the North Cascades National Park.”

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