April 21, 2015, Introduced by Senator CASPERSON and referred to the Committee on Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 505 (MCL 324.505).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 505. (1) The department, in pursuing the state's policy
of propagating fish for the purpose of stocking the streams and
lakes of the state, shall accept federal fish stock for such
programs, and shall apply for all federal fish stock programs that
do not commit the state to future expenditures.
(2) The department shall stock at least 191,859 spring walleye
fingerlings within fish stocking priority regions using the average
stocking levels in those regions from 1985 to 2001 and the
following guidelines:
(a) The minimum stocking rate shall be 50 spring walleye
fingerlings per surface acre until a legal sized adult walleye
population of a minimum of 25 individual walleye of each age group
in the population estimate sample is sustained for 5 years.
(b) For an individual lake in which the walleye population is
significantly lower than the average for the fish stock priority
region, the stocking rate shall be a minimum of 75 spring walleye
fingerlings per acre.
(c) For an individual lake with a highly compromised walleye
population, the stocking rate shall be a minimum of 100 spring
walleye fingerlings per acre.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "Fingerling" means a fish between 1.50 and 2 inches in
length.
(b) "Fish stocking priority region" means a region that meets
both of the following:
(i) The region consists of 2 or more contiguous counties with
a combined population of not less than 34,000 and not more than
41,000 residents.
(ii) The region contains at least 130 inland lakes.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.