News Release

Mount Rainier National Park Releases Its Fish Management Plan Environmental Assessment for Public Comment

Date: September 12, 2017
Contact: Rebecca Lofgren & Karen Thompson, 360-569-6510

The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared an Environmental Assessment that considers the implementation of a Fish Management Plan at Mount Rainier National Park. The purpose of the plan is to guide management of native and nonnative fish populations in the park. 

 

This Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluates three alternatives: Alternative 1 would continue existing fish management policies, goals and actions. Alternative 2, the preferred alternative, would implement revised fishing regulations consistent with NPS, Washington State, and Endangered Species Act policy, while providing for continued recreational fishing opportunities. Nonnative fish would eventually be removed from two streams and from 10 of 35 lakes with reproducing fish populations. Alternative 3 would include Alternative 2 actions, and nonnative fish removal would occur in ten additional park lakes and two additional streams with more complex habitat. In addition, native salmon and bull trout would be reintroduced to some stream reaches. 

 

This EA has been prepared consistent with NPS guidance for implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act and provides a decision-making framework that 1) analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives to meet objectives of the proposal, 2) evaluates potential issues and impacts to the park’s resources, values and visitors, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts. 

 

Mount Rainier National Park invites you to provide comments on the Fish Management Plan EA. Comments that provide corrections or suggestions to improve the alternatives or the environmental analysis are most helpful.

 

Please comment online using the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/morafishmgtplan or mail comments to: Superintendent, Mount Rainier National Park, 55210 238th Ave. E., Ashford, Washington, 98304. This EA will be available for public review and comment for 30 days ending October 11, 2017.

 

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. Although you can request in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, this cannot be guaranteed. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.

-NPS-