06 LC 28
2793
House
Bill 1211
By:
Representatives Reese of the
98th,
Lane of the
158th,
Ralston of the
7th,
Holt of the
112th,
Crawford of the
127th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to state symbols, so as to designate the Southern
Appalachian brook trout as the official state cold water game fish; to provide
for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
The
General Assembly finds and determines that:
(1)
The Southern Appalachian brook trout is one of
naturés
most exquisite forms of art with its brilliant colors and intricate
patterns;
(2)
The Southern Appalachian brook trout makes its home in the clean, cold, crystal
clear waters of the North Georgia mountains and is
Georgiás
only native Salmonid species;
(3)
Throughout our
statés
history, our citizens have prized the Southern Appalachian brook trout for its
tasty flesh and plentiful numbers;
(4)
Over the past century, however, extensive logging has decimated brook trout
waters through sedimentation and erosion of habitat and, when nonnative trout
were stocked to replace lost populations, the brook trout could not compete and
were driven to higher elevation streams where they remain today;
(5)
The brook trout is also subject to harm today from acid rain that is deposited
in the high mountains and ridges of our state from air pollution;
(6)
The protection of the Southern Appalachian brook trout has become a major
conservation concern and the inclusion of the Southern Appalachian brook trout
in our official state symbols list could possibly contribute to the efforts to
protect this magnificent state natural resource;
(7)
The Southern Appalachian brook trout is an excellent indicator of water and air
quality and declines in their numbers can serve as early warning signs that
environmental conditions may be deteriorating in our watersheds;
and
(8)
Establishing an official state cold water game fish is necessary to fully
recognize our diverse wildlife and the Southern Appalachian brook trout is
deserving of the attention and appreciation of the citizens of this state by
designation as the official state cold water fish.
SECTION
2.
Article
3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to state symbols, is amended by adding a new Code Section 50-3-82 to read as
follows:
∀50-3-82.
The
Southern Appalachian brook trout is designated as the official Georgia cold
water game
fish.∀
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.