2025 Legislative Session: Budget Information

The Department has categorized its policy level requests as follows:

• Phase II of previously funded budget items of greatest agency need,
• Existing critical work currently funded one-time that we are seeking ongoing, and
• Other high-priority policy investments.

Phase II of previously funded budget items of greatest agency need

WDFW Staff & Volunteer Safety, $9.4 million

WDFW is rapidly scaling its Safety and Training Program to ensure staff and volunteers have appropriate training and tools to mitigate risks inherent in their work. Over the last year, WDFW has updated policies, initiated a temporary “stand-down” of specific water-based activities to train and equip staff, and established an incident command team to reinforce a culture of safety. WDFW initiated this work with investments from the 2024 supplemental operating budget. WDFW seeks to address the next most important items for the Department with an additional $6.3 million in ongoing funds for volunteer safety, safety equipment, and staff safety data management.

Factsheet: WDFW Staff &Volunteer Safety

Restoring Washington’s Biodiversity, $14.3 million

Habitat loss and degradation, climate change effects, pollution, wildlife disease, and invasive species threaten the state’s biodiversity. Fish and wildlife are public resources, and it is the WDFW’s mandate to conserve them for current and future residents of Washington. WDFW previously requested $47.6 million in the 2023-25 operating budget and received partial funding ($24 million for the biennium, with $31 million ongoing beginning in the 2025-27 biennium). This funding increased WDFW’s capacity to recover at-risk species and their habitats, develop efforts to evaluate and manage other Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), and engage in crucial public education and outreach efforts. 

However, WDFW needs the remainder of the resources we proposed in 2023 to effectively implement the actions in the State Wildlife Action Plan and safeguard and restore Washington’s biodiversity. We aim to develop and implement action plans for 80% of at-risk species and increase public participation in conservation by 25%. 

Factsheet: Restoring Washington's Biodiversity (PDF)

Existing critical work currently funded one-time that we are seeking ongoing

Salmon & Steelhead Monitoring, $1.6 million

Robust fisheries monitoring and planning efforts are critical to species conservation and recovery, co-management with Treaty Tribes, and fishing opportunities. This package includes support for Puget Sound freshwater fisheries monitoring efforts, including steelhead spawning estimates and angler surveys, and fishery planning efforts, including preparation of fishery management plans for steelhead fisheries. With ongoing support for monitoring, WDFW can safeguard the health of imperiled fishery stocks, meeting federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and tribal co-management requirements while providing diverse and accessible recreational fishing opportunities for all Washingtonians.

Quagga & Zebra Mussel Prevention, $7.2 million

Building on a FY 25 quagga mussel proviso of $1.81 million in state general funds and leveraging $1.81 million in federal funds, WDFW will expand mussel activities including detection monitoring, implementing protections for habitat and infrastructure, and reducing impacts to our economy, environment, and species, including salmon and steelhead. WDFW will increase prevention activities, response readiness, public awareness and action, regulatory compliance, and preparation for extended management and mitigation. Through this ongoing investment, WDFW will address the greater than $100 million annual quagga and zebra mussel threat on the state’s doorstep for the benefit of protecting and perpetuating Washington’s resources.

Factsheet: AIS Quagga & Zebra Mussel Prevention  (PDF)

Respond to Wildlife Disease, $3.7 million

Diseases can significantly impact wildlife populations, and sick wildlife are often an early warning of diseases that can affect domestic animals and humans. Recent examples include chronic wasting disease (CWD) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or “bird flu”), respectively. Early detection and response to wildlife diseases enhances WDFW’s capacity to mitigate wildlife impacts and implement proactive strategies to help ensure healthy wildlife populations in Washington. If funded, this proposal will enhance WDFW's capacity to detect and respond to wildlife diseases and proactively mitigate associated wildlife disease risks, including those associated with climate change, and provide action plans to preserve healthy and resilient wildlife in our state.

Factsheet: Respond to Wildlife Disease (PDF)

Riparian Systems Assessment, $2 million

Healthy, connected riparian habitat is critical for preserving, protecting, and perpetuating Washington’s fish and wildlife, especially salmonid recovery. A lack of information on riparian conditions has been a barrier in prioritizing riparian restoration and protection. To optimize riparian investments, WDFW was directed by the Legislature to create an online decision support tool the Riparian Data Engine (RDE). Continued funding is needed for its development. This proposal aims to advance WDFW’s goal of increasing riparian habitat (10% net gain by 2025) and measure progress towards this goal through increased data (66-100%), tool accessibility, and targeted capabilities.

Wolf Recovery, $1.1 million

With a steadily growing wolf population in Washington (from the first pack in 2008 to 260 wolves in 42 packs by 2023), wolf-livestock conflict also increased. Proactively mitigating wolf-livestock conflict is one of the greatest challenges for WDFW, as this issue has a history of deep-rooted social disagreement and controversy. Through one-time provisos in the 2021-23 and 2023-25 biennial budgets, the legislature funded WDFW staff and implementation of nonlethal mitigation strategies like range rider contracts, audio and visual deterrents, and cooperative cost-sharing agreements with producers in northeastern Washington counties who experience recurrent wolf-livestock conflict issues. WDFW is requesting ongoing funding to sustain current efforts to support wolf recovery.

Streamflow Policy Support, $1.1 million

Climate change, human population growth, and struggling salmon populations require a long-term, strategic vision for Washington’s water management into the future. The historical overallocation of Washington’s rivers and groundwater has negatively impacted fish and wildlife in many watersheds. As the demand for water increases, politically or legally expedient solutions are frequently favored over ecological requirements. WDFW is uniquely poised to provide science-based expertise and policy leadership to the state’s understanding of streamflow issues and their ecological implications.

Columbia River ESA Permitting, $1.4 million

This funding will allow WDFW to maximize recreational fishing opportunities for salmon and steelhead. Due to the year-round presence of ESA listed salmon and steelhead, WDFW is legally required to have coverage from NOAA to prosecute recreational fisheries. WDFW’s existing suite of fishery permits were developed over the past two decades and currently do not provide full ESA coverage, limit flexibility to manage recreational fisheries, do not incorporate the best available science, and lack consistency between them. New and dedicated staff would complete all necessary ESA fishery permits within 56 years. Consequences of not completing fishery permits includes increased litigation risk, inability to open new recreational fisheries, and not achieving conservation objectives for listed salmon and steelhead. 

Pinniped Predation, $3.1 million

Pinniped (seal and sea lion) predation in Washington is negatively impacting Endangered Species Act listed salmon and steelhead populations of great importance to endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales and to commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries. This package supports continued participation in a successful Columbia River sea lion management program partnering with regional states and tribes, as well as ongoing pinniped abundance, diet, and movement monitoring to better understand predation impacts. Without this continued funding, WDFW would have significantly reduced ability to engage in an increasingly controversial issue that is important to Washington’s Native American tribes, businesses, and citizens. WDFW’s inability to engage on this topic would undermine Governor Inslee’s Southern Resident Task Force Recommendations #12 and #13.

Toutle & Skamania Hatcheries, $1.9 million

Federal Mitchell Act funds are used to operate seven hatcheries and produce over 17 million salmon and steelhead in the lower Columbia River. Chronically stagnant funding for Mitchell Act facilities and increasing operational costs have put the Department’s ability to maintain current production levels at risk. A $1.9 million shortfall in this funding will further restrict the Department’s efforts thus resulting in the closure of two Facilities and 1.5 million in lost salmon and steelhead production. These cuts would reduce fishing opportunities primarily in the lower Columbia River and eliminate several permanent staff positions operating these hatcheries. Lost production would impact recreational and commercial fisheries from Alaska to Canada, down the Washington coast, and in the Columbia River. It could also potentially impair Washington’s ability to fulfill its Pacific Salmon Treaty commitments with Canada. Additionally, some of the salmon reduction would include Tule Fall Chinook which are in the top three prey stocks for the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales whose food sources are already diminished. In short, allowing this deficiency in funding to remain unaddressed would result in an economic hit to commercial and recreational fisheries of approximately $2.21 million annually.

Fish Passage Prioritization, $0.8 million

One of the most effective, and only proven, restoration techniques for salmon recovery is removing human-made barriers to reconnect isolated aquatic habitat. Although fish passage barrier correction is necessary for salmon and steelhead recovery, and thereby also critical for Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW), an additional driving factor for fish passage barrier removal investments is the federal court injunction. “On June 11, 2018, after decades of litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the treaty obligation of the State of Washington to repair or replace fish-blocking culverts under state-owned roads within the United States v. Washington case area, Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs) 1-23.”1 As such, Washington State is currently spending billions of dollars replacing barrier culverts through multiple culvert correction programs. Statewide, there are thousands of inventoried barrier culverts that need to be replaced. To maximize salmon and SRKW recovery benefit from the state investment – and build support for the level of funding needed – it is crucial to develop one comprehensive strategy for prioritizing and removing fish passage barriers for Washington state.

Lake Washington Predator Support, $1.4 million

Chinook and sockeye salmon returns to the Lake Washington watershed are at historic lows because of predation on juvenile salmon by non native fish species inhabiting the lake. Climate change and continued illegal introductions of predator fish such as northern pike exacerbate the predation problem. Poor salmon returns in this highly populated watershed disproportionately affect under­served communities and Tribes. Suppression of non­native predators will increase survival for Chinook and sockeye, leading to increased adult returns and fishing opportunities for these species in Lake Washington. Hydro acoustic monitoring of juvenile Chinook and sockeye outmigration via sonar deployment provides a critical validation tool for determining success of predator removal.

Wolf Advisory Group, $0.3 million

Washington residents have strong and diverse opinions regarding co-existence with wolves. WDFW has been working to address critical biological and social issues collaboratively through the community-based Wolf Advisory Group (WAG). One-time funding was provided through provisos in the 2021-23 and 2023-25 biennial enacted budgets for an external, neutral facilitator. WDFW is requesting ongoing funding for WAG facilitation. Lack of neutral facilitation focused on wolf recovery has proven to damage public trust, decrease engagement with agricultural and conservation communities, increase the risk wolf populations will not recover, and increase the risk of litigation.

Factsheet: One-time to ongoing funding requests

Other high-priority policy investments

Expanding Fish and Wildlife Police, $18.6 million

Washington state, with eight million residents and twice the national growth rate, faces increasing demands on its natural resources. These circumstances necessitate additional Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Officers to ensure public safety and resource protection. WDFW Enforcement Officers are responsible for law enforcement statewide, including state and federal lands and waters, and respond to a variety of related issues from poaching to habitat protection. The Program maintains 171 commissioned law enforcement positions and is poised for the addition of 20 more and six support staff this biennium. More officers mean proactive presence, crime deterrence, and greater natural resource protection statewide.

WDFW has a responsibility to preserve and protect the state’s fish and wildlife. This responsibility becomes ever more complex with increased human and wildlife conflict, the obligation to protect treaty rights, and the presence of endangered and protected species. Without increased presence, WDFW cannot continue to provide adequate protection to our most vulnerable fish and wildlife resources. Calls for service are exponentially rising as users of Washington’s outdoor spaces increase. Enforcement Officer candidates well suited for this line of work may choose employment elsewhere if the Program cannot provide opportunities to work as WDFW Enforcement Officers.

Factsheet: Expanding Fish and Wildlife Police  (PDF)

Scientific Data Modernization, $6.9 million

WDFW proposes an investment in a comprehensive scientific data management program to enhance and streamline conservation of Washington’s fish, wildlife, and wild spaces. With this program, WDFW will introduce cloud storage, a modern data library, and a collaborative scientific data analytics environment. WDFW will research and implement advanced data management technologies to leverage vast scientific data, while an AI Specialist will oversee policy and partnerships to ensure safe and efficient AI integration. Without this investment, WDFW risks falling behind in scientific innovation, compromising data integrity, and failing to meet public and legislative expectations for effective conservation management.

Hatchery Investment Strategy, $2.7 million

State operated hatchery facilities need additional capacity for current and expanded production, including additional fish health services and mass marking of hatchery salmonids. This funding supports recreational and commercial harvest, tribal harvest, Southern Resident killer whale prey, and conservation efforts for wild salmonids. If not funded, hatchery production goals may not be met, the Fish Health Unit will not be staffed adequately to monitor state and commercial aquaculture, fish intended for harvest will not be mass marked, and reciprocal marking and tagging for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission may not be achieved.

Emerging Fishery Implementation, $0.6 million

There is increased political and social pressure to diversify the salmon fishing gears used in the lower Columbia River commercial fishery, especially gears with mark-selective capabilities. With an Emerging Commercial Fishery, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife can assess the viability of alternative gears in a commercial setting and use this information to provide recommendations to the legislature on the use of these gears in the future. This request will fund monitoring commercial alternative gear research to inform fishery implementation questions, monitoring for the emerging commercial fishery. Without funding, the Department will not be able to adequately monitor this emerging fishery to inform the viability of alternative commercial gears.

Forest Health & Fuel Reduction, $2 million

The enacted 2023­-2025 biennial budget for ongoing forest health and fuel reduction efforts moved the funding from the capital budget to the Forest Resiliency Account, reduced biennial funding from $6 million to $4 million, and restricted the funding to one-time. The enacted 2024 Supplemental added $2 million per fiscal year ongoing from the Natural Climate Solutions Account, resulting in $4 million for the 2025­-2027 biennium. WDFW requests restoration of the previous funding level at $6 million per biennium. The additional $2 million provides mandated cultural resources review of all forest projects, and for the prescribed burn crews which implement 4,000 acres per biennium of treatments, contributing to ecological health, habitat for critical species, reduced wildfire risk, and resilience to climate change.

Invest in Lands Stewardship, $9.9 million

The long-­term conservation and recreation value of WDFW-managed lands, representing billions of dollars of public assets is at risk. The growing costs to steward these lands and increasing demand for the services they provide have out-paced the capacity needed and funding available for maintaining their integrity. WDFW requires funding to address urgent near­-term needs and support a transition to a proactive and comprehensive approach to conserving natural and cultural resources and managing 1 million+ acres statewide. 

Factsheet: Invest in Land Stewardship (PDF)

Expand Wildlife Conflict Response, $7.4 million

As Washington’s population continues to grow, the potential for human-wildlife interactions and conflicts increases. WDFW seeks to build capacity for wildlife conflict response by consolidating and expanding response to negative human-wildlife interactions. Funding this request allows wildlife conflict specialists to increase responsiveness to crop and livestock damage and negative human-wildlife interactions, while increasing preventative education and outreach. These changes will reduce agriculture and livestock producer frustrations, decrease costly damage claims, and allow for a seamless response and follow-through to negative human-wildlife interactions with all species including black bears and cougars. This package also supports enhancing the Beaver Relocation Permit Program.

Factsheet: Expand Wildlife Conflict Response (PDF)

Facilities Six-Year Plan Alignment, $3.3 million

WDFW has a deficit of office and storage space throughout Washington. The Department has grown by 30%, but its office and storage space has not increased. In the 2025-2027 biennium, facilities in four locations face critical relocation needs due to lost leases or safety concerns, displacing staff and equipment. New funding for additional leased office and storage space is essential for the success of the Department’s mission.

Replacement Equipment, $4.6 million

WDFW's current heavy equipment fleet is deteriorating faster than it can be replaced through existing funds. As equipment is surplused, the Department is increasingly turning to rental equipment, but that is costly and unreliable, causing critical time delays and impacting business needs. WDFW is requesting funds to replace priority equipment to maintain critical business operations, including public access maintenance, hatchery improvements, habitat restoration, and recreational opportunities.

Fish Passage & Screen Capacity, $3.3 million

WDFW is finalizing review of Chapter 77.57 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) (known as the Fishways, Flow, and Screening Statutes) to implement new rules surrounding fish passage and water diversions. Full implementation of the rules will enable WDFW to better protect all fish species. Salmon populations throughout the state are at historically low numbers, due in part to barriers blocking fish passage and improperly designed water diversions. Without change, salmon are unlikely to recover, and Southern Resident killer whales will continue to struggle for lack of their preferred prey. This proposal will implement the new Fishways and Screening Rules on the date they become effective.

Coastal Salmonids Management, $4.8 million

Coastal Chinook and steelhead are regarded as stronghold populations in Washington, but they were petitioned for Environmental Species Act (ESA)-listing in 2023 due to low abundance. The value of these fish and fisheries cannot be overstated. This package represents a holistic approach to fisheries conservation and management on the coast. Robust population viability monitoring will be led by expert scientists and leveraged in management strategy evaluations. Regional management plans will be developed with co-managers along with modern harvest management tools to inform forecasting, maintain critical fisheries, and achieve conservation goals.

Reduce Emissions, Build Resilience, $13 million

This funding request builds upon ongoing work to enhance WDFW's response to climate change by building resilience to climate impacts and reducing Department-generated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The request funds initiatives to develop climate science and build capacity for resilience, and achieve meaningful emissions reduction through fleet electrification, energy efficiency, and alternative commuting.  
The request also advances statewide priorities and mandates; the resilience projects are directly related to implementing Washington’s Climate Resilience Strategy and the GHG emissions reduction projects support the Department in meetings the emissions reduction targets outlined in RCW 70A.45.050 (ESSHB 2311).

Managing Emergent Toxic Threats, $2 million

Chinook salmon and other key Puget Sound aquatic species are exposed to two emergent, highly toxic chemicals, PFAS and 6PPD-q, that potentially threaten species health as well as the health of Washingtonians who consume contaminated seafood. This investment would allow WDFW to track the presence of these two contaminants in specific juvenile salmon habitats and in key fish species throughout Puget Sound. Results will be used to guide clean-up and pollution prevention efforts to protect threatened Chinook salmon and other sensitive species. Funding would also be used to test edible fish tissues for the Department of Health.

Hatchery Conservation Program, $2.6 million

Salmon population persistence in many rivers is threatened by the double jeopardy of climate change and legacy impacts from deleterious habitat, fishery, and hatchery practices. Conservation hatchery programs have proven to be an effective tool for maintaining at-risk populations and increasing genetic diversity. This package will extend this proven technique to address critical salmon conservation needs and complement broader recovery actions for five key salmon populations. An assessment of the risks, benefits, and feasibility of a conservation hatchery program is also proposed for Chehalis Spring Chinook salmon. These actions are supported by multiple tribes, salmon recovery entities, and stakeholder organizations.

Mobile Harvest Application Support, $7.1 million

Accurate and timely reporting of harvest is required for sustainable fisheries management. Further, WDFW is obligated under federal court order to provide accurate and timely catch accounting to tribal co-managers. Seeking to develop mobile harvest reporting tools which best accomplish these objectives, WDFW has developed mobile harvest reporting applications allowing the recording and submission of harvest information into an electronic catch-record card (eCRC) - at real time. The applications, through mobile devices, accomplish these objectives and incorporate the ability to support the development and implementation of new tools in the future. This decision package includes support for a comprehensive suite of staff necessary to successfully implement mobile harvest reporting including biometrician, field technician, biologist, and technical and customer service support.

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 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 included in this request are:

• Toutle Fish Collection Facility Upgrade with ASACE, $15.1 million
• Soos Creek Hatchery – Construction Phase, $7.6 million
• Spokane Hatchery Renovation, $18.1 million
• SRKW – Sol Duc Hatchery Modifications, $11.4 million
• Beaver Creek Hatchery Renovation, $12.9 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 included in this request are:

• 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