Department of Fish and Wildlife
| Annual FTEs | General Fund State | Other Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in Thousands) | ||||
| Estimated Expenditures | 1,556.7 | 161,487 | 375,900 | 537,387 |
| 2021-23 Maintenance Level | 1,553.2 | 149,926 | 332,077 | 482,003 |
| Difference from 2019-21 | (3.5) | (11,561) | (43,823) | (55,384) |
| % Change from 2019-21 | (0.2%) | (7.2%) | (11.7%) | (10.3%) |
2021-23 Policy Other Changes |
||||
| HPA Compliance and Assistance | 6.0 | 1,808 | 0 | 1,808 |
| Aquatic Invasive Species Threats | 11.4 | 2,824 | (875) | 1,949 |
| Salish Sea Marine Mammal Surveys | 2.0 | 940 | 0 | 940 |
| Marine Mammal Removal | 3.2 | 1,506 | 0 | 1,506 |
| Salmon and Steelhead Monitoring | 0.0 | 0 | 1,682 | 1,682 |
| Zooplankton Monitoring | 0.40 | 0 | 280 | 280 |
| Crab Fishery and Humpbacks | 2.0 | 0 | 570 | 570 |
| Columbia River Gillnet Fishery | 0.30 | 1,100 | 0 | 1,100 |
| Wildlife Rehabilitation | 0.0 | 0 | 300 | 300 |
| Streamflow Policy Support | 4.6 | 1,037 | 0 | 1,037 |
| ESHB 2097 - Ongoing Wolf Recovery | 1.5 | 954 | 0 | 954 |
| Interest Arbitration | 0.0 | 431 | 0 | 431 |
| Post-Wildfire Habitat Recovery | 0.20 | 280 | 0 | 280 |
| Species Conservation | 0.0 | 996 | (996) | 0 |
| Dingell-Johnson Act Shortfall | 0.0 | 0 | 862 | 862 |
| Continue Elwha River Salmon Rearing | 0.0 | 1,472 | (1,472) | 0 |
| Toutle & Skamania River Hatcheries | 0.0 | 0 | 1,896 | 1,896 |
| Balance to Revenue (Accts 24N/104) | 0.0 | 0 | 13,330 | 13,330 |
| Balance to Revenue (Account 209) | 0.0 | 0 | (555) | (555) |
| Balance to Revenue (Account 01B) | 0.0 | 0 | (30) | (30) |
| Whale Watching Vessel Regulations | 0.40 | 542 | 0 | 542 |
| 2021-23 Policy Other Changes Total | 32.0 | 13,890 | 14,992 | 28,882 |
2021-23 Policy Comp Changes |
||||
| Pension Adjustments, nonrate | 0.0 | 86 | 150 | 236 |
| State Employee Benefits | 0.0 | (76) | (124) | (200) |
| WFSE General Government | 0.0 | (512) | (1,006) | (1,518) |
| Fish and Wildlife Officers Guild | 0.0 | 588 | 1,057 | 1,645 |
| Temporary Layoffs and Other Savings | 0.0 | (1,619) | (2,485) | (4,104) |
| Rep Employee Health Benefits | 0.0 | (179) | (365) | (544) |
| Fish & Wildlife Professionals | 0.0 | (2,283) | (3,882) | (6,165) |
| Coalition of Unions | 0.0 | (370) | (1,140) | (1,510) |
| Non-Rep General Wage Increase | 0.0 | (768) | (1,130) | (1,898) |
| 2021-23 Policy Comp Changes Total | 0.0 | (5,133) | (8,925) | (14,058) |
2021-23 Policy Central Services Changes |
||||
| Archives/Records Management | 0.0 | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| Audit Services | 0.0 | (6) | (6) | (12) |
| Legal Services | 0.0 | (146) | (152) | (298) |
| CTS Central Services | 0.0 | 227 | 236 | 463 |
| DES Central Services | 0.0 | 150 | 157 | 307 |
| OFM Central Services | 0.0 | 1,178 | 1,226 | 2,404 |
| Self-Insurance Liability Premium | 0.0 | 474 | 494 | 968 |
| 2021-23 Policy Central Services Changes Total | 0.0 | 1,885 | 1,964 | 3,849 |
| Total Policy Changes | 32.0 | 10,642 | 8,031 | 18,673 |
| 2021-23 Policy Level | 1,585.2 | 160,568 | 340,108 | 500,676 |
| Difference from 2019-21 | 28.5 | (919) | (35,792) | (36,711) |
| % Change from 2019-21 | 1.8% | (0.6%) | (9.5%) | (6.8%) |
Policy Changes
HPA Compliance and Assistance
Construction projects in state waters must be done in a way that protects fish life. The department will increase technical assistance to landowners to apply for a Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) when conducting construction in streams, rivers, and lakes. The goal of this additional funding is to reduce permit violations and improve protections for fish. (General Fund - State)
Aquatic Invasive Species Threats
Ongoing funding is provided to the department to reduce the threat of aquatic invasive species such as zebra quagga mussels, European green crab, and northern pike. Expanded efforts will include prevention, early detetction, and rapid response to new outbreaks of aquatic invasive species. This proposal helps offsets a decline in revenue from fees on boating license registration fees. (General Fund - State, Aquatic Invasive Species Mngmt Acct - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State)
Salish Sea Marine Mammal Surveys
More scientific information is needed to determine whether seal and sea lion consumption of salmon and steelhead is negatively impacting salmon, steelhead, and Southern Resident orca recovery efforts in Puget Sound. The department will expand its efforts to survey the diets of these marine mammals and identify non-lethal management actions to deter them from preying on salmon and steelhead. (General Fund - State)
Marine Mammal Removal
Every year, sea lions consume thousands of migrating salmon and steelhead along the Columbia River, many from runs listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The salmon and steelhead consumed by pinnipeds are no longer available for fishing opportunities, and their offspring will no longer feed the declining Southern Resident orca population which relies on these fish as its primary food source. The department will reduce pinniped predation by increasing lethal removal of sea lions in the Columbia River. (General Fund - State)
Salmon and Steelhead Monitoring
One-time authority is provided for the department to improve Puget Sound steelhead spawning estimates, potentially allowing for a better managed recreational fishery. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)
Zooplankton Monitoring
Funding is shifted from the Department of Natural Resources to directly fund the Department of Fish and Wildlife's scientific work to monitor zooplankton, an important primary food source in the marine food web in Puget Sound. The results will help explain impacts of ocean acidification on the marine ecosystem, salmon population, and Southern Resident orca whale recovery. (Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, General Fund - State)
Crab Fishery and Humpbacks
Humpback whales feed off Washington’s coastal waters in the summer and have been getting tangled in crabbing gear. Two species of humpbacks traveling through Washington waters are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Entanglement places a risk to the Dungeness crab fishery. The department is provided additional funding to study the effectiveness of electronically tracking crab fishery gear to avoid whale entanglements during their migration. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State, General Fund - State)
Columbia River Gillnet Fishery
Ongoing funding is provided to reduce the number of commercial gillnet fishing licenses on the Columbia River through a voluntary buy-back program. The goal is to purchase approximately 100 Columbia River gillnet licenses during the 2021-23 biennium. The license reduction is needed due to a dramatic decline in fishing opportunities on the mainstem of the river, resulting in not enough fish to harvest for the current number of licensed fishers. (General Fund - State)
Wildlife Rehabilitation
In 2019, our state's network of 36 wildlife rehabilitation centers cared for over 16,000 sick, injured, and young wild animals. One-time funding is provided to expand the network of centers statewide to assist animals in need, particularly in central, southern, and eastern Washington. (Wildlife Rehabilitation Account - State)
Streamflow Policy Support
The department will continue to provide policy and scientific support to the Department of Ecology regarding surface and groundwater resource management issues with a focus on fish and wildlife needs for adequate instream flows. This work expands on recent implementattion of ESSB 6091 from the 2018 legislative session (Chapter 90.94 RCW). (General Fund - State)
ESHB 2097 - Ongoing Wolf Recovery
Ongoing funding is provided for the department to manage wolf conflicts with livestock by working with ranchers on non-lethal methods to deter wolves from preying on cattle. Specifically, the department will continue to staff wildlife conflict specialists to respond to livestock depradations, coordinate nonlethal deterrents with ranchers, and provide technical assistance and support. (General Fund - State)
Interest Arbitration
During the 2020 legislative session, the Department of Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers were granted interest arbitration as a component of their collective bargaining with the state. Funding provided to the department for the provisions of E2SSB 5481 (relating to interest arbitration) was not enough to fully support the involvement of the OFM State Human Resources Labor Relations Office in the arbitration. Ongoing funding is provided to meet the requirements of the collective bargaining process with the department's enforcement officers. (General Fund - State)
Post-Wildfire Habitat Recovery
The number of acres of wildlife areas burned by wildfire averages 10,000 to 30,000 each year. After fires are suppressed, the department must conduct habitat recovery efforts immediately to prevent noxious weed infestations and erosion and to reestablish native vegetation. Base funding is increased on an ongoing basis to better meet the immediate response needs after fires are put out. (General Fund - State)
Species Conservation
Washington has more than 260 species of greatest conservation need, many of which are listed as threatened or endangered. Funding for species conservation work is primarily funded by the sale of personalized license plates. However, sales have not kept up with the costs for conservation planning, coordination, and implementation of recovery actions. Ongoing funding from the state general fund will allow this important work to continue and help prevent future federal Endangered Species Act listings. (Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State, General Fund - State)
Dingell-Johnson Act Shortfall
The Dingell-Johnson Act allows for a federal excise tax on sports fishing and boating equipment with funds distributed to state fishing and boating recreation programs. Funding allocated to Washington state has declined in recent years. One-time funding from state fishing fees is provided to support operations at the Omak trout hatchery and Cowlitz River-Mayfield Lake salmon net pen operations. Without this funding, these facilities would need to close, impacting recreational fisheries at many lowland lakes in eastern Washington and fishing on the Cowlitz River. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State, Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)
Continue Elwha River Salmon Rearing
The Elwha River rearing channel was established in 1975 to mitigate the loss of habitat access above the Glines Canyon and Elwha dams. The removal of the dams opened up over 90 miles of mainstem and tributary spawning and rearing habitat for anadromous fish. For the past ten years, the National Park Foundation funded the Elwha River rearing channel as an integral component of recovering wild salmon populations back into the river. Ongoing state general fund support is provided to continue operations of the rearing channel and the release of 2.7 million Chinook each year. (General Fund - Private/Local, General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, other funds)
Toutle & Skamania River Hatcheries
One-time finding is provided to fill a shortfall in support from the federal government through the Mitchell Act to prevent closure of the Toutle and Skamania hatcheries. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State)
Balance to Revenue (Accts 24N/104)
Expenditure authority is increased to reflect the spendling levels for the Limited Fish and Wildlife Account (104) and the Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Account (24N) based on the allocation of authority supported in the 2019-21 biennium. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State)
Balance to Revenue (Account 209)
Expenditure authority is reduced in the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Account (209) to balance with available revenue. This wil reduce grants available for regional fisheries enhancement groups to undertake salmon recovery projects. (Regional Fisheries Enhance Group - Non-Appropriated)
Balance to Revenue (Account 01B)
Expenditure authority is reduced in the ORV & Nonhighway Vehicle Account (01B) to balance with available revenue. (ORV & Nonhighway Account - State)
Whale Watching Vessel Regulations
Additional ongoing funding is provided for the department to implement whale watching regulations designed to protect Southern Resident orcas developed under 2SSB 5577 (Chapter 291, Laws of 2019). Specific work will include contracts for monitoring recreational and commercial vessels around Southern Resident orcas. (General Fund - State)
Pension Adjustments, nonrate
This funds the potential impact of Department of Retirement Systems request legislation on pension service credit and benefit calculation. It will prevent budget reductions such as temporary layoffs from negatively affecting employee retirement benefits. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, other funds)
State Employee Benefits
Health insurance funding is provided for state employees who are not represented by a union, who are covered by a bargaining agreement that is not subject to financial feasibility determination, or who are not part of the coalition of unions for health benefits. The insurance funding rate is $988 per employee per month for fiscal year 2022 and $1,018 per employee per month for fiscal year 2023. (Special Wildlife Account - Private/Local, Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Reward - Non-Appropriated, Special Wildlife Account - Local, other funds)
WFSE General Government
This adjustment reflects the impact of the 2021-23 collective bargaining agreement. (Regional Fisheries Enhance Group - Non-Appropriated, Special Wildlife Account - Private/Local, Special Wildlife Account - Local, other funds)
Fish and Wildlife Officers Guild
This adjustment reflects the impact of the 2021-23 collective bargaining agreement. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, General Fund - State, other funds)
Temporary Layoffs and Other Savings
This item reflects savings achieved from temporary layoffs or similar actions. (Special Wildlife Account - Private/Local, Recreational Fisheries Enhancement - State, Fish & Wildlife Equipment Revolving - Non-Appropriated, other funds)
Rep Employee Health Benefits
This provides health insurance funding for the master agreement for employee benefits as part of a coalition of unions. The insurance funding rate is $988 per employee per month for fiscal year 2022 and $1,018 per employee per month for fiscal year 2023. (Oil Spill Prevention Account - State, Special Wildlife Account - Private/Local, Fish & Wildlife Equipment Revolving - Non-Appropriated, other funds)
Fish & Wildlife Professionals
This adjustment reflects the impact of the 2021-23 collective bargaining agreement. (Recreational Fisheries Enhancement - State, Special Wildlife Account - Federal, Fish & Wildlife Equipment Revolving - Non-Appropriated, other funds)
Coalition of Unions
This adjustment reflects the impact of the 2021-23 collective bargaining agreement. (Warm Water Game Fish Account - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State, other funds)
Non-Rep General Wage Increase
This reflects savings from the cancellation of the July 1, 2020 general wage increase for some non-represented, non-classified employees. (Aquatic Invasive Species Mngmt Acct - State, Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State, Recreational Fisheries Enhancement - State, 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)
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 legal services provided by the Attorney General’s Office. Because legal services expenditures are based on consumption, funding provided in the central service model is not all inclusive. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State)
CTS Central Services
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency’s anticipated share of charges for Microsoft 365 G5 licenses contracted for state agencies by the Consolidated Technology Services agency. This contract allows the state to achieve economies of scale and administrative efficiencies in the management of licenses. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)
DES Central Services
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency’s anticipated share of charges from the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) for campus rent, utilities, parking, and contracts; capital project surcharges; financing cost recovery; public and historic facilities; real estate services; risk management services; personnel service rates; the Perry Street child care center; small agency services; and the department’s enterprise applications. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)
OFM Central Services
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency’s anticipated share of charges for existing statewide financial applications, One Washington, and other central services provided by the Office of Financial Management. (General Fund - State, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State)
Self-Insurance Liability Premium
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's share of actuarily projected costs of the Self-Insurance Liability Account. This includes adjustments to existing funding levels as well as enhancements for anticipated liabilities in the 2021-23 biennium. (Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State, General Fund - State)
