Department of Fish and Wildlife

  Average Annual FTEs Near General Fund State Other Funds Total Funds
  (Dollars in Thousands)
Current Budget 1,601.8 175,004 344,496 519,500
2021-23 Maintenance Level 1,602.9 180,961 351,683 532,644
Difference from 2021-23 Original 1.1 5,957 7,187 13,144
% Change from 2021-23 Original 0.07% 3.4% 2.1% 2.5%

2022 Policy Other Changes

Equipment Replacement Costs 0.50 183 1,163 1,346
Salmon and Steelhead Monitoring 0.0 1,682 (1,682) 0
Crab Fishery and Humpbacks 0.0 570 (570) 0
Improved Bighorn Sheep Management 0.0 0 400 400
Lake Rufus Woods Contract Increase 0.0 0 97 97
Cultural Resources Capacity 3.3 1,071 0 1,071
Monitor Dungeness Crab Harvest 3.0 710 0 710
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 1.5 525 0 525
Improved Elk and Deer Monitoring 0.40 0 450 450
Extensive Wildfire Habitat Recovery 0.40 4,197 0 4,197
Extraordinary Wildfire Suppression 0.0 2,672 0 2,672
Forage Fish Spawning Monitoring 0.90 721 0 721
Monitor Freshwater Salmon Harvest 10.4 2,617 0 2,617
Fish Passage Rulemaking 0.50 294 0 294
Hatchery Production and Compliance 1.7 0 574 574
Columbia Gillnet License Reduction 0.50 16,700 0 16,700
Improved Mountain Goat Management 0.0 0 139 139
Mass Marking Trailer 0.20 0 1,709 1,709
Net Ecological Gain 0.0 256 0 256
Meeting Increasing Recreation Needs 9.1 3,418 100 3,518
Recreational Shellfish Harvest 1.4 0 295 295
Monitor Shellfish Harvest 1.4 395 0 395
Riparian Standards 23.8 8,466 0 8,466
Species Conservation Fund Shift 0.0 996 (996) 0
Prioritization of Fish Barriers 0.70 360 0 360
Hydropower Licensing Participation 1.5 494 0 494
Monitor Freshwater Harvest 2.8 1,185 0 1,185
Monitor Ocean Salmon Harvest 0.50 158 0 158
Monitor Puget Sound Salmon Harvest 4.3 1,958 0 1,958
Monitor Commercial Salmon Harvest 1.5 994 0 994
Marine Fisheries Compliance Liaison 0.50 226 0 226
Increase Fisheries Enforcement 3.0 1,283 0 1,283
Electronic Catch Record Cards 1.0 372 0 372
Environmental Prosecution 2.5 852 0 852
Hatchery Production Evaluation 15.5 4,283 0 4,283
Fish In/Fish Out Monitoring 9.0 2,392 0 2,392
Pittman-Robertson Fund Shift 0.0 2,726 (2,726) 0
Toutle & Skamania River Hatcheries 0.0 1,896 (1,896) 0
Solar Expansion & Habitat Protectn 1.0 402 0 402
Salmon Recovery and GMA Integration 4.3 1,297 0 1,297
Safe & Sanitary Water Access Areas 2.3 0 497 497
North of Falcon Team Capacity 2.7 842 0 842
Improved Turkey Management & Access 1.0 0 850 850
Improving Upland Bird Habitat 0.80 0 740 740
2022 Policy Other Changes Total 113.9 67,193 (856) 66,337

2022 Policy Comp Changes

State Employee Benefits 0.0 5 8 13
WFSE General Government 0.0 278 575 853
Fish and Wildlife Officers Guild 0.0 504 900 1,404
DFW Teamsters 760 Enf Sgts 0.0 124 300 424
Rep Employee Health Benefits 0.0 13 24 37
Fish & Wildlife Professionals 0.0 1,404 2,625 4,029
Coalition of Unions 0.0 280 851 1,131
Non-Rep General Wage Increase 0.0 575 882 1,457
PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase 0.0 50 89 139
2022 Policy Comp Changes Total 0.0 3,233 6,254 9,487

2022 Policy Central Services Changes

Archives/Records Management 0.0 5 5 10
Audit Services 0.0 3 3 6
Legal Services 0.0 84 87 171
CTS Central Services 0.0 224 231 455
DES Central Services 0.0 69 72 141
OFM Central Services 0.0 1,133 1,179 2,312
Self-Insurance Liability Premium 0.0 30 31 61
2022 Policy Central Services Changes Total 0.0 1,548 1,608 3,156
Total Policy Changes 113.9 71,974 7,006 78,980
2022 Policy Level 1,716.8 252,935 358,689 611,624
Difference from 2021-23 Original 115.0 77,931 14,193 92,124
% Change from 2021-23 Original 7.2% 44.5% 4.1% 17.7%

Policy Changes

Audit Services

Adjustments are made for each agency’s anticipated cost of audits performed by the State Auditor’s Office. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)

Legal Services

Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of Attorney General's Office legal services based on a three-year average. Because legal services costs are based on usage, funding provided in the central service model is not all inclusive. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State)

DES Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency’s anticipated share of charges from the Department of Enterprise Services for campus rent, parking, security and contracts; capital project surcharges; financing cost recovery; public and historic facilities; real estate services; risk management services; personnel service rates; the Perry Street and Capitol Campus child care centers; small agency services; and the department’s enterprise applications. See the 2021-23 Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State)

OFM Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency’s anticipated share of charges for existing statewide applications, the One Washington program, and other central services provided by the Office of Financial Management. See the 2021-23 Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)

WFSE General Government

The collective bargaining agreement includes a general wage increase of 3.25% for fiscal year 2023 and a lump sum payment for employees who were employed continuously starting on or before July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State, General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, other funds)

Fish & Wildlife Professionals

The collective bargaining agreement includes a general wage increase of 3.25% for fiscal year 2023 and a lump sum payment for all employees hired before July 1, 2022. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - Federal, other funds)

Coalition of Unions

The collective bargaining agreement includes a general wage increase of 3.25% for fiscal year 2023 and a lump sum payment for all employees hired before July 1, 2022. (General Fund - Local, General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, other funds)

Equipment Replacement Costs

One-time funding is provided to purchase 84 pieces of equipment and support a permanent fleet and equipment manager who is responsible for the agency's inventory. (East Wash Pheasant Enhancement Acct - State, Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State, Warm Water Game Fish Account - State, other funds)

Salmon and Steelhead Monitoring

Funding is shifted from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Account to General-Fund State to improve Puget Sound steelhead spawning estimates, allowing for a better managed recreational fishery. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State)

Crab Fishery and Humpbacks

Funding is shifted from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Account to General-Fund State to work with the Washington Whale Working Group and crab fishery participants on conservation measures to protect humpback whales. This will ensure ongoing compliance with federal restrictions with the goal of retaining a robust commercial crab fishery. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)

Improved Bighorn Sheep Management

Dedicated funds support one-time costs to purchase radio collars, conduct aerial surveys and contract with an established research institution to compile data on disease infections in bighorn sheep herds across the state. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)

Lake Rufus Woods Contract Increase

The department will contract with the Colville Confederated Tribes to provide fishery management and enforcement patrols at Lake Rufus Woods. Additional funding is required due to increased contract costs. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)

Cultural Resources Capacity

The department is a steward of diverse landscapes and places of great importance to Tribes and communities throughout the state. Governor’s Executive Order 21-02, Archeological & Cultural Resources, requires collaboration with Tribal communities regarding cultural resources and environmental impacts. This item funds new requirements to consult with Tribes on state-funded projects to comply with the executive order. (General Fund - State)

Monitor Dungeness Crab Harvest

Ongoing funding is provided to monitor the recreational harvest of Dungeness crab on the Washington coast. This work is necessary to produce harvest estimates and better manage this popular fishery. (General Fund - State)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The department will expand efforts to improve workplace culture, perform outreach and engagement with underserved external stakeholders, and enact metrics to evaluate progress on diversity, equity and inclusion of employees, stakeholders, and the public. (General Fund - State)

Improved Elk and Deer Monitoring

Dedicated funds support one-time costs to purchase radio collars and conduct aerial surveys on elk and deer populations in eastern Washington to better manage this popular game species. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)

Extensive Wildfire Habitat Recovery

In 2021, statewide wildfires caused extensive damage to wildlife areas which need to be stabilized to prevent further habitat degradation. Particularly hard hit was the Blue Mountain, Swakane, North Olympic, LT Murray, Methow and Scatter Creek wildlife areas. One-time funding is provided to clear fire-damaged areas, manage the spread of noxious weeds, and restore damaged habitat and public access sites. (General Fund - State)

Extraordinary Wildfire Suppression

In 2021, wildfires burned over 35,818 acres of departmental land not covered by fire district assessments. The three largest fires were Joseph Canyon, Lick Creek, and Protection Island. The department is required to pay local fire districts and the Department of Natural Resources for firefighting activities on lands not covered by the forest fire protection assessment. Funding is increased to align with forecasted fire suppression costs in fiscal year 2022. (General Fund - State)

Forage Fish Spawning Monitoring

Forage fish, such as herring, sand lance, smelt and anchovy, are a foundation of marine food webs. These species spawn in nearshore habitat increasingly at risk from shoreline development, armoring, toxic runoff, and chemical spills. Funding is provided for Washington Conservation Corps crews to continue forage fish survey work previously funded by the Department of Natural Resources and recommended for continued funding by the governor’s Southern Resident Orca Task Force. (General Fund - State)

Monitor Freshwater Salmon Harvest

Ongoing funding is provided to improve monitoring of recreational harvest of salmon and steelhead caught in freshwater river systems in Puget Sound and on the coast. Monitoring the abundance, productivity, and life-history diversity of wild salmon populations is an essential component of effective fisheries management. If not managed effectively, these recreational fisheries could slow or prevent the recovery of salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act. Specific river systems that will be monitored include Puget Sound rivers, Grays Harbor rivers, Lake Washington, Nisqually River, and Willapa Bay. (General Fund - State)

Fish Passage Rulemaking

The department will complete rulemaking for chapter 77.57 RCW for fishways, flow, and screening to protect fish passage when rivers and streams are diverted or obstructed for human uses. (General Fund - State)

Hatchery Production and Compliance

Increased water quality permitting costs and staffing challenges require an increased investment to avoid disruptions in existing hatchery operations and to ensure state hatcheries are meeting state water quality standards. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)

Columbia Gillnet License Reduction

Full funding is provided to purchase all Columbia River commercial gillnet licenses on a voluntary basis. Harvest amounts previously caught by commercial license holders who elect to sell their license, will be extinguished and saved for conservation purposes. (General Fund - State)

Improved Mountain Goat Management

Dedicated funds support one-time costs to conduct aerial surveys on mountain goat populations to better manage this popular game species. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)

Mass Marking Trailer

The department is required to mark all juvenile, hatchery-produced Chinook and Coho salmon by clipping their adipose fins (RCW 77.95.290). Dedicated funds will support the purchase of an automated fish marking trailer that is needed to meet recent increases in hatchery production. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)

Net Ecological Gain

Funding is shifted from the Office of Financial Management to the department for the purpose of providing a report to the Legislature on net ecological gain. (General Fund - State)

Meeting Increasing Recreation Needs

Increased visitation to wildlife areas and water access sites caused unprecedented incidents of trash, human waste, vandalism, and unauthorized activity. Ongoing funding will address the increase in demand on recreational lands owned and managed by the department and provide necessary resources to avoid degradation of critical habitat areas and better manage public access opportunities. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State, General Fund - State)

Recreational Shellfish Harvest

Ongoing dedicated funding is provided to improve monitoring of recreational shellfish harvests. The ability to gather updated and expanded data will allow the department to improve fisheries management, adhere to tribal co-management plan commitments, and continue to provide sustainable shellfish harvest opportunities in Puget Sound. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)

Monitor Shellfish Harvest

Additional funding is provided to expand monitoring of recreational and commercial shellfish harvests. The department will monitor intertidal and crustacean fisheries, address emerging environmental issues, create a modern data management infrastructure, and develop a disease and pest management program to protect shellfish fisheries. (General Fund - State)

Riparian Standards

The governor is proposing legislation to set a riparian zone standard which will advance riparian protection and restoration needs for salmon recovery. Funding is provided for the department to develop the standard through rulemaking, create riparian protection zone maps for incorporation in land use planning, prioritize riparian restoration needs, and conduct compliance activities. (General Fund - State)

Species Conservation Fund Shift

Funding is shifted from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Account to General-Fund State to support the protection and recovery of more than 260 species of greatest conservation need, many of which are listed as threatened or endangered. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State)

Prioritization of Fish Barriers

The department will complete a statewide prioritization of fish passage barriers in consultation with regional salmon recovery organizations to maximize salmon recovery efforts and coordinate with the state’s schedule for culvert corrections. (General Fund - State)

Hydropower Licensing Participation

Ongoing funding is provided to participate in the review of non-federal hydropower dams license renewals and new hydropower license applications to address fish passage requirements and identify mitigation solutions. (General Fund - State)

Monitor Freshwater Harvest

Additional ongoing funding is provided to improve monitoring of recreational harvest of salmon and steelhead caught in freshwater river systems in Puget Sound and on the coast. Monitoring the abundance, productivity, and life-history diversity of wild salmon populations is an essential component of effective fisheries management. If not managed effectively, these recreational fisheries could slow or prevent the recovery of salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act. Specific river systems that will be monitored with this funding include the Nooksack and Skagit Rivers and other targeted fisheries in north and south Puget Sound rivers. (General Fund - State)

Monitor Ocean Salmon Harvest

Wild and hatchery salmon fisheries management in the coastal waters of Washington involves intensive sampling and monitoring to meet strict harvest guidelines to offer salmon fisheries opportunities while staying within agreed-to conservation objectives. This item adds additional sampling and monitoring staff to ensure adequate levels of monitoring to provide precise, timely in-season harvest estimates. (General Fund - State)

Monitor Puget Sound Salmon Harvest

Recreational salmon fisheries in Puget Sound have been curtailed in recent years due to the continued decline in natural stocks. The sustained demand for fishing opportunities of hatchery Chinook salmon requires intensive sampling and monitoring programs to estimate the mortality of this threatened species during recreational fishing. This item expands capacity to interview recreational anglers about their catch to better estimate fishing impacts on natural stocks. (General Fund - State)

Monitor Commercial Salmon Harvest

Commercial chum salmon fisheries have severely declined due to lower productivity of natural populations. Existing commercial monitoring of chum salmon harvest will be expanded with additional surveys of returning chum salmon and on-board observations of fishing activity. These actions will improve data and provide more predictable opportunities for Washington’s commercial fishers. (General Fund - State)

Marine Fisheries Compliance Liaison

A new law enforcement captain position is created to serve as an external liaison on enforcement of fisheries and work collaboratively with federal, state, Tribal, and other law enforcement partners on large-scale, marine-focused strategies to increase compliance with fisheries regulations and reduce poaching. (General Fund - State)

Increase Fisheries Enforcement

Fish and Wildlife officers are essential in maintaining safe and properly managed commercial and recreational fisheries. As pressures on recreational fishing increase, additional law enforcement officers are needed to ensure public safety, enforce fisheries regulations, and protect the state’s natural resources from illegal gain or profit. Thwarting illegal activity supports fisheries conservation efforts, protects habitat, and reduces over-harvest of salmon runs. (General Fund - State)

Electronic Catch Record Cards

Funding will develop and implement a mobile-based electronic catch record card system for fisheries management. Offering anglers a convenient way to report their catch will allow the department to manage fisheries in a more timely manner and improve fisheries management. This funding is in anticipation of the approval of agency request legislation to allow for electronic licenses. (General Fund - State)

Environmental Prosecution

The department will pass through funding to the Attorney General’s Office to prosecute hundreds of environmental crimes turned away by county prosecutors each year due to lack of resources. Prosecution of environmental crimes will discourage violations of laws that protect the public from illegal pollution and safeguard the economy from commercial natural resource theft. Reducing poaching will ensure fair and equitable access to resources. (General Fund - State)

Hatchery Production Evaluation

Washington operates one of the largest hatchery systems in the world. The success and survival of hatchery salmon will be improved by monitoring in-hatchery survival, out-of-hatchery survival, adult returns, and average cost of production. This information will inform an adaptive management hatchery program in western Washington to better achieve management goals, such as rebuilding natural populations for conservation purposes, providing food for Southern Resident orcas, and increasing fishing opportunities. (General Fund - State)

Fish In/Fish Out Monitoring

Improving salmon populations requires monitoring of migration patterns into and out of stream and river systems. This data is critical to knowing whether progress is made toward salmon recovery goals. The department will partner with regional salmon recovery organizations to conduct salmon population monitoring to better measure salmon recovery in key watersheds, implement more precise monitoring of freshwater productivity, and improve fish protection and fish passage compliance. (General Fund - State)

Pittman-Robertson Fund Shift

Funding is shifted from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Account to General-Fund State to assist the department with surveying and studying game populations, mitigating wildlife impacts on crops, setting hunting seasons, monitoring hunter opportunities, and providing public access to private lands for hunting purposes. This work was previously funded by federal Pittman-Robertson funds which have declined in recent years. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State)

Toutle & Skamania River Hatcheries

To prevent closure of the Toutle and Skamania hatcheries, funding is shifted from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Account to General-Fund State to fill a shortfall in support from the federal government through the Mitchell Act. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)

Solar Expansion & Habitat Protectn

Siting new solar facilities are important to increase green energy opportunities. The department will provide technical support to inform permitting and mitigation decisions on new siting proposals and participate in forums to identify opportunities to promote habitat-friendly development and mitigation for impacts to threatened and endangered species. (General Fund - State)

Salmon Recovery and GMA Integration

This item provides technical support to local government planning under the Growth Management Act with the goal of incorporating salmon recovery protection measures. The initial focus is on King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, as these are the first counties due to revise comprehensive plans and critical areas ordinances during the next scheduled periodic update. (General Fund - State)

Safe & Sanitary Water Access Areas

One-time funding from dedicated revenue will help to maintain water access areas affected by pandemic crowds and improve signage for educating visitors on how to recreate safely and responsibly. Outcomes of this investment include cleaner, better maintained, and safer boat launches and water access facilities. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)

North of Falcon Team Capacity

Salmon fisheries management requires extensive data and analysis to understand impacts on salmon populations and support recreational and commercial fishing opportunities. The department will enhance efforts to create higher level quantitative analysis and scientific rigor to better inform fisheries negotiations at the North of Falcon annual salmon allocation process with federal and Tribal partners. (General Fund - State)

Improved Turkey Management & Access

Dedicated funds support one-time costs to implement turkey population monitoring surveys, restore habitat to benefit turkeys, review ways to offer mentored turkey hunts, and focus hunter efforts on private lands experiencing damage. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)

Improving Upland Bird Habitat

Dedicated funds support one-time costs to develop an enhanced volunteer-based upland game bird monitoring program, research new methods to improve surveying of upland game birds, restore habitat to benefit upland game birds, and increase private lands access agreements. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)

State Employee Benefits

Health insurance funding is provided for state employees who are not covered by the healthcare coalition. The insurance funding rate is $936 per employee per month for fiscal year 2022 and $1,130 per employee per month for fiscal year 2023. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, other funds)

Fish and Wildlife Officers Guild

The collective bargaining agreement includes a provision to implement a redesigned classification and compensation structure of the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement classes. (General Fund - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, other funds)

DFW Teamsters 760 Enf Sgts

The collective bargaining agreement includes a provision to implement a redesigned classification and compensation structure of the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement classes and an educational incentive for employees who have obtained an Associate degree (2% of base pay) or Bachelor’s degree (4% of base pay). (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, other funds)

Rep Employee Health Benefits

Health insurance funding is provided as part of the master agreements for employees who bargain for health benefits as part of a coalition of unions. The insurance funding rate is $936 per employee per month for fiscal year 2022 and $1,130 per employee per month for fiscal year 2023. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State, General Fund - Federal, other funds)

Non-Rep General Wage Increase

A general wage increase of 3.25%, effective July 1, 2022, is provided for state employees who are not represented by a union or who are covered by a bargaining agreement that is not subject to financial feasibility determination. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State, General Fund - Federal, other funds)

PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase

For eligible Public Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 1 members, this item provides an increase of 3%, up to a maximum of $110 per month. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - Federal, other funds)

Archives/Records Management

Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated share of charges for archives and records management services provided by the Secretary of State's Office. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)

CTS Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from Consolidated Technology Services (CTS) for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of Cyber Security, state network, enterprise services, small agency IT services, security gateways, and geospatial imaging services. See the 2021-23 Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)

Self-Insurance Liability Premium

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's share of the actuarially projected costs of the self-insurance liability premium. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)