Habitat recovery and protection

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A dike is breached as part of a salmon habitat restoration project on Fir Island.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife administers or assists with a number of programs to protect and preserve habitat in the state, whether responding to emergencies or proactively aiding fish and wildlife species faced with a changing environment.

  • Find a WDFW habitat biologist

    Find contact information for a WDFW habitat biologist in your area with this interactive webmap. 

  • Fish Passage

    When salmon and steelhead cannot migrate upstream to spawn due to stream and river barriers, populations decline. WDFW works to correct these barriers in Washington.

  • Climate change

    Earth's climate is changing, and Washington is feeling the effects. WDFW has adopted a strategic approach to deal with threats of climate change.

  • Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) Program

    This program shares information about the locations of fish, wildlife, and their habitats, to inform local governments, landowners, and others.

  • Puget Sound recovery

    WDFW works to protect and restore Puget Sound shoreline and nearshore environments such as beaches, bluffs, inlets, and river deltas.

  • Oil spill prevention and response

    WDFW's Oil Spill Team is dedicated to rescuing oiled wildlife and protecting natural resources.

  • Farm Bill programs in Washington

    The federal Farm Bill delivers many benefits to fish, wildlife, and their habitats in Washington, as well as local landowners.

  • Chehalis Basin Strategy

    The basin-wide strategy includes actions and projects designed to reduce flood-related damage while also restoring aquatic species habitat in the Chehalis River basin. 

  • Stillaguamish Restoration and Recovery

    A relatively small river with a huge impact, the Stillaguamish is at the leading edge of salmon declines and habitat conservation concerns in Washington state and across the West Coast.

  • High Resolution Change Detection (HRCD) project

    Explore how land cover – specifically new development and/or tree loss – has changed over time using high resolution aerial imagery.

  • Derelict fishing gear removal project

    Derelict fishing gear includes nets, lines, crab and shrimp traps or pots, and other equipment lost or abandoned in the marine environment. 

  • Volunteer Cooperative Grant Program

    The Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account Program has supported hundreds of projects that engage volunteers and benefit Washington’s fish and wildlife resources.

  • SalmonScape

    The SalmonScape mapping tool shows how streams are used by the five Pacific salmon species in the state.  

  • Shrubsteppe Fire Preparedness, Response, and Restoration

    The Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration Initiative will benefit wildlife by restoring shrubsteppe habitat, helping at-risk species recover, and supporting working lands in Eastern Washington.