Number: 1976-06
WHEREAS, fishing long has been a desirable activity which enhances outdoor experiences for many visitors to National Forests, including areas of wilderness; and
WHEREAS, thousands of lakes of appreciable size, which can sustain fishing, are located within national forest units of the National Wilderness Preservation System; and
WHEREAS, public fishing in these lakes could ease pressures upon other public waters; and
WHEREAS, providing and/or maintaining a fishery can be an effective method of directing use patterns to protect wilderness values; and
WHEREAS, many of these wilderness lakes require periodic stocking if fishing is to be maintained; and
WHEREAS, the only feasible means of stocking many lakes is by aircraft; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Forest Service has adopted a policy which prevents state wildlife agencies from stocking certain wilderness lakes by aircraft which had not been so stocked prior to being incorporated into the wilderness system; and
WHEREAS, there is no evidence that the use of aircraft for this purpose significantly impairs wilderness values;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 19-21, 1976, in Louisville, Kentucky, hereby requests that the Forest Service consider altering its policy to work with state agencies in developing a program for the aerial stocking of wilderness lakes with species of fish indigenous to those waters.