2026 Legislative Session: Budget Information

Emergent needs

Increased Officer Presence, $3.9 million

WDFW Police Officers are essential to Washington, patrolling the state’s wild areas, ensuring public safety and protecting our fish, wildlife, and natural resources. Washington’s population has increased 60% in 30 years, but WDFW Officer capacity has only grown 3% in that same timeframe. Calls for service have surged due to this population growth, expanding patrol areas, and increasing law enforcement expectations. This request will restore two marine fisheries Police Officer positions cut in the 2025-27 operating budget, allow WDFW to fill five vacancies, and add five new positions, significantly improving coverage and reducing response times for calls for service.

This request is not funded in the final budget

• Fact Sheet (PDF)

Securing Space, Supporting Staff, $1 million

This request would provide funding to relocate facilities in two locations and continue to develop the Department’s long-term planning for AutoFish marking trailer storage.

This request is funded in the final budget.

Forest Health and Fuel Reduction, $2.4 million

The 2025-27 operating budget reduced WDFW’s funding for forest health and fuel reduction efforts from $6 million to $1.2 million. Current funding is not sufficient to maintain the pace, or efficacy of the program, which includes both thinning and prescribed burn treatments on WDFW forested lands. The Department requests restoration of previous funding levels, which provides for mandated cultural resources review and for the treatment of approximately 4,000 acres per biennium, contributing to reduced wildfire risk, resilience to climate change, and improved ecological health and habitat for critical species.

This request is not funded in the final budget.

• Fact Sheet (PDF)

Current work

Enforcement Readiness, $2.1 million

WDFW Police Officers are the state’s frontline for protecting public safety and safeguarding fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. Officers depend on specialized gear body armor, radios, night vision, uniforms, boots, and other equipment to perform their duties safely and effectively in often challenging conditions. The cost of this essential gear has significantly increased over the last six years. The Department requests funding to continue equipping Officers with mission-critical equipment.

This request is not funded in the final budget.

Vehicle Replacement, $1.7 million

WDFW Police Officers rely on vehicles to patrol state lands and protect resources. Vehicle costs have outpaced current budget levels and threaten the Department’s ability to patrol, respond to emergencies, and support law enforcement conservation efforts statewide. Reliable, well-maintained patrol vehicles are essential for public safety efforts, rapid response, and effective public service. This funding will ensure the Department can replace aging vehicles on schedule, control long-term repair costs, and maintain operational readiness across Washington’s diverse and challenging terrain.

This request is partially funded in the final budget.

Enforcement Overtime Costs, $371,000

Recent wage increases for WDFW Police Officers and Sergeants have significantly increased overtime costs. Holidays and other peak periods often demand overtime work to respond to emergencies, protect public safety, and safeguard natural resources. To maintain current operations and meet critical staffing requirements, sustained increases in funding are critical to offset rising overtime expenses. Without this funding, the Department risks coverage gaps during the times when enforcement needs are at their highest.

This request is funded in the final budget.

HPA Permitting System Modernization, $1.4 million

The Department’s Aquatic Protection Permitting System (APPS) is a critical online platform used by permit applicants, WDFW staff, and stakeholders to meet statutory requirements under RCW 77.55.351. Despite its essential role, only 55% of the funding needed for ongoing maintenance and operations was allocated in the 2025-27 operating budget. This proposal requests the remaining funds necessary for software license fees to sustain APPS. Without full funding, system reliability and legal compliance are at risk, directly impacting environmental permitting and public service delivery.

This request is funded in the final budget.

Passed Unfunded Legislation, $2 million

WDFW collects a 10% transaction fee on license sales under RCW 77.32.050 to operate and maintain its automated licensing system. Recent legislation (ESSB 5390 and SSB 5583) increased license fees, which will raise transaction fee revenues, and the associated expenditures needed to process them. WDFW requests additional expenditure authority in the Limited Fish and Wildlife Account to align with this cost increase, ensuring the Department can meet contractual obligations, maintain the licensing system, and continue mission critical customer service without reducing funding for other priorities.

This request is funded in the final budget.

Capital Project Operating Costs, $3.9 million

As part of its mission, WDFW strategically acquires lands that meet conservation values or increase public outdoor recreation opportunities. Through the capital budget process and other pathways WDFW obtains new lands or land management rights and implements related capital improvements, increasing WDFW’s operations and maintenance (O&M) obligations. This ongoing funding request for O&M identifies the most recent land acquisitions and capital improvements for the 10,758 acres of new WDFW-managed lands and related capital improvements completed between July 1, 2024 and August 15, 2025.

This request is partially funded in the final budget.

Closing Skamania Hatchery, $432,000

WDFW received less than requested funding to support the ongoing operations of the North Toutle and Skamania Hatcheries in the enacted 2025-27 operating budget. This led WDFW to make the difficult decision to permanently close Skamania Hatchery. Closure will begin in fiscal year 2026 and take three years to fully and properly close the facility. During the closure process, WDFW is still obligated to finish rearing production currently onsite, collect broodstock, continue ladder operations to ensure removal of hatchery origin fish and passage of natural origin fish, and provide facility security and caretaking.

This request is not funded in the final budget.

Post-wildfire Habitat Recovery, $919,000

Each year, wildfires sweep across Washington, burning thousands of acres and causing significant damage on habitats and infrastructure within wildlife areas and water access sites managed by WDFW. In response, the Department implements critical recovery efforts to rehabilitate these landscapes, restoring vegetation, controlling noxious weed infestations, removing hazards, and rebuilding essential infrastructure. These efforts are a vital investment in the long-term ecological health and resilience of the state’s natural areas, helping fire-impacted lands recover and thrive.

This request is not funded in the final budget.

Flight Time Cost Increases, $500,000

WDFW depends on aircraft for critical wildlife management and habitat monitoring statewide. Due to increasing aviation costs and the retirement of the Department plane, expenses have increased significantly. WDFW is seeking funding to offset increased costs and maintain critical aerial capabilities, ensuring that WDFW can continue to meet its conservation, enforcement, and emergency response goals effectively.

This request is not funded in the final budget.

AutoFish Equipment Replacement, $464,000

WDFW requires funding to replace cutters, markers, and holder assemblies in the Department’s AutoFish systems. These components are vital for clipping fins of approximately 45 million salmon and steelhead annually, providing distinction between wild and hatchery fish. In addition, about 23 million fish receive coded wire tags annually which requires cutter replacements to ensure readability of the tags. Annual equipment replacement across three trailers ensures WDFW meets its obligations to effectively mark and tag these fish. This investment supports sustainable fisheries, aligns with legal mandates and regulations, and advances conservation goals.

This request is not funded in the final budget.

WDFW requested $998 million in capital budget funding for the 2025-27 biennium, focused on conserving healthy fish and wildlife populations, sustainable outdoor experiences, supporting a strong economy and social values, and pursuing operational excellence within the Department. The Department’s request reflects a strong desire to reduce risks to native salmon and steelhead through projects to reduce the impacts hatcheries have on native fish. In addition to facility improvements, the Department’s capital budget request also reflects our commitment to conserving and restoring fish and wildlife habitat.

Conserving healthy fish and wildlife populations

The request continues to support projects identified in the Southern Resident Killer Whale Master Plan needed for the recovery of Southern Resident Killer Whales. There are several requests for renovating intakes and improving adult fish handling facilities to improve survival rates of native fish. The Department also has several requests for improving incubation facilities that will help with producing Endangered Species Act listed fish.

Sustainable outdoor experiences

The Department is committed to providing sustainable fishing, hunting and wildlife-viewing opportunities throughout the state. Included in our request are several projects to ensure hatcheries, piers, and public access sites are safe, clean, and effectively support people’s use and enjoyment of natural resources.

Supporting a strong economy

Renovating hatcheries and improving recreational access and wildlife areas increases recreational opportunities for the public. This in turn, provides a greater economic benefit for local economies in Washington.

Pursuing operational excellence

The Department recognizes that a skilled, diverse workforce and efficient business processes are essential to effectively manage fish and wildlife and serve the public in the 21st century. Included in the Department’s Strategic Plan is the objective to provide work environments that are safe, highly functional, and cost-effective. Projects within this request will help the Department come closer to achieving this objective.

Major Works Projects

Major works projects are projects with a total cost greater than $1.5 million and/or are expected to take multiple biennia to complete. All major works projects are included in the Department’s ten-year plan. Some major works projects that received funding in the Conference budget include:

• Toutle Fish Collection Facility Upgrade with ASACE, $6.5 million
• Soos Creek Hatchery – Construction Phase, $7.7 million
• Spokane Hatchery Renovation, $13 million
• SRKW – Sol Duc Hatchery Modifications, $11.3 million
• Beaver Creek Hatchery Renovation, $7 million

Minor Works Projects

Minor works projects cost between $25,000 and $1.5 million to complete and can be completed in a single biennium. Minor works projects can be split into preservation projects and programmatic projects. Preservation projects maintain, preserve, and extend the life of existing state facilities and do not significantly change the use of a facility. Programmatic projects are tied to a programmatic goal such as changing or improving an existing facility to meet new requirements or creating a new facility through construction, lease, or purchase. Some minor works projects that received funding in the Conference budget include:

• Statewide Facility Safety Deficiencies, $1.2 million
• Statewide Pumps and Alarms, $850,000
• Statewide Hatcheries Intake/Outfall Safety Modifications, $500,000
• Statewide Hatchery Electrical Service Improvements, $450,000
• Statewide ADA Improvements, $500,000

The governor's budget proposal fully funds $220,000 for the demolition and removal of derelict structures and debris on the Snow Creek site in Clallam County to prepare for future development of the site into a public water access area.