Columbia National Wildlife Refuge Fishery Management Plan

Recreational fishing is a popular activity in Washington State, infusing millions of dollars into local economies and positively contributing to the quality of life of resident and non-resident anglers. In 2006, an estimated 824,000 resident and non-resident recreational anglers fished a total of 9.1 million days in Washingtonfs fresh and marine waters (TCW 2008). The net economic value of recreational fishing in Washington State in 2006 was estimated at $462 million. Net economic value measures an anglerfs willingness to pay over and above actual outof- pocket costs to go fishing. Freshwater fishing accounts for the majority of recreational angler effort and net economic value in Washington State. A total of 538,000 freshwater anglers (65.3%) fished 7.5 million days (83.0%) accounting for $380.2 million (82.3%) in net economic value in 2006. Trout fishing is the most popular recreational fishing activity accounting for 337,000 (62.6%) of all freshwater anglers and $145.9 million (38.4%) of the total net economic value. Furthermore, based on a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department or WDFW) survey, approximately 78.0% of resident recreational anglers prefer to fish for rainbow trout in Washingtonfs lowland lakes (Responsive Management 2008). To accommodate freshwater angling demand, the Department annually stocks 18-22 million trout into 500 lakes statewide. Most lakes in Washington State are open year-round to recreational fishing. However, seasonal lakes (e.g., last Saturday in April) gsignalh the traditional start of lake fishing for most trout anglers. The Department estimates as many as 500,000 anglers participate in the late April lowland lake opening day weekend alone (TCW 2008).

The Department divides the management responsibility of the Statefs fish and wildlife resources into six administrative Regions. Region 2 is responsible for managing fish and wildlife resources within north central Washington which includes Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Adams Counties. Within Grant and Adams Counties there are approximately 350 named and unnamed ponds, lakes, and reservoirs ranging in size from <1 to 28,000 surface acres (Wolcott 1973). Most of these waters are actively managed for recreational fishing and are visited by tens of thousands of anglers annually. The Department stocks approximately 80 of these waters with around two million trout each year. The lakes located on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR or Refuge) near the City of Othello are popular amongst recreational anglers. The Department has provided recreational fishing opportunity for trout in these lakes since the middle 1950s. CNWR lakes represent 28.8% of all Grant and Adams County lakes stocked annually with trout.

One of the Departmentfs major goals is to provide sustainable fishing, hunting, and wildliferelated recreational opportunities throughout Washington State. The Region 2 Fish Program (FP) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) have a long history co-managing recreational fishing on the CNWR lakes. WDFW recreational fishing regulations and license requirements have always applied to Refuge lakes since establishment of the CNWR in 1944. Historical fish management and stocking practices on Refuge lakes has been coordinated through informal agreements and coordination between WDFW fisheries and CNWR staff. Fish management and stocking practices for the past three decades has occurred under the guidance of two fishery management plans (FMP) written by WDFW in 1981 and 1996. The objective of both FMPs was to detail specific fish management and stocking practices on Refuge lakes and ensure those practices didn’t negatively impact wildlife resources (primarily waterfowl) on the CNWR. The 1996 plan has expired and a new FMP needs to be completed in order to continue recreational fishing on Refuge lakes. Additionally, the Service recently finished a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the CNWR that will only permit recreational fishing on Refuge lakes under the guidance of a current and mutually agreed to FMP. This document is intended to serve as the FMP for Refuge lakes as required within the CNWR CCP.