Department of Fish and Wildlife
RCW 77
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is state government’s principal steward of fish and wildlife resources. The Department administers programs that conserve native fish and wildlife, protect and enhance the environment, and provide recreational and commercial fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, and other sustainable opportunities for millions of Washington residents and visitors.
Agency Mission
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife serves Washington's citizens by protecting, restoring, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats, while providing sustainable and wildlife related recreational and commercial opportunities.
| Request | 823,847,000 |
|---|---|
| Net change from current biennium | 66,095,000 Increase |
| Percent change from current biennium | 8.7% Increase |
Operating Budget: Summary
Appropriated Funds
| 2023-25 Appropriations | Appropriated Funds | Expenditures | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Estimated Balance | 2021-23 Actual | 2023-25 Estimated | 2025-27 Proposed | |
| 160,011,000 | General Fund - Federal | 132,652,235 | 160,011,000 | 173,010,000 | |
| 531,000 | Special Wildlife Account - Federal | 257,803 | 531,000 | 532,000 | |
| 5,001,000 | Reg Fish Enhance Salmonid Recovery - Federal | 2,396,101 | 5,001,000 | 5,001,000 | |
| 70,020,000 | General Fund - Private/Local | 60,584,013 | 70,020,000 | 77,079,000 | |
| 3,842,000 | Special Wildlife Account - Private/Local | 3,182,575 | 3,842,000 | 3,864,000 | |
| (430,000) | Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Reward - Nonappropriated | 283,905 | 430,000 | 626,000 | |
| (134,000) | WA Coast Crab Pot Buoy Tag Account - Nonappropriated | 274,852 | 134,000 | 134,000 | |
| (525,000) | Rockfish Research Account - Nonappropriated | 558,916 | 525,000 | 526,000 | |
| (100,000) | Wolf-Livestock Conflict Account - Nonappropriated | 42,574 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
| (2,277,000) | Regional Fisheries Enhance Group - Nonappropriated | 1,785,998 | 2,277,000 | 2,278,000 | |
| (100,000) | Fish and Wildlife Fed Lnds Rev Acct - Nonappropriated | 29,666 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
| (99,000) | Coastal Crab Account - Nonappropriated | 54,009 | 99,000 | 99,000 | |
| (42,000) | Puget Sound Crab Pot Buoy Tag Acct - Nonappropriated | 60,019 | 42,000 | 42,000 | |
| (1,896,000) | Fish & Wildlife Equipment Revolving - Nonappropriated | 2,095,157 | 1,896,000 | 1,898,000 | |
| 6,744,981 | 6,744,981 | Info Tech Invest Rev Acct - Nonappropriated | 1,327,335 | ||
| 346,052,000 | General Fund - State | 248,655,907 | 346,052,000 | 379,123,000 | |
| 696,000 | ORV & Nonhighway Account - State | 678,000 | 696,000 | 558,000 | |
| 14,124,000 | Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account - State | 12,745,806 | 14,124,000 | 14,737,000 | |
| 3,756,000 | Recreational Fisheries Enhancement - State | 3,465,736 | 3,756,000 | 3,885,000 | |
| 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | Salmon Recovery Account - State | |||
| 3,088,000 | Warm Water Game Fish Account - State | 3,233,727 | 3,088,000 | 3,116,000 | |
| Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Reward - State | (408,000) | ||||
| 675,000 | East Wash Pheasant Enhancement Acct - State | 858,009 | 675,000 | 396,000 | |
| 36,947,000 | Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State | 39,183,758 | 36,947,000 | 38,451,000 | |
| Motor Vehicle Account - State | 390,465 | ||||
| 2,925,000 | Special Wildlife Account - State | 2,702,313 | 2,925,000 | 2,945,000 | |
| 661,000 | Wildlife Rehabilitation Account - State | 661,000 | 661,000 | 361,000 | |
| 10,000 | Ballast Water & Biofouling Mgt Acct - State | 5,704 | 10,000 | 10,000 | |
| 1,284,000 | Oil Spill Prevention Account - State | 1,038,592 | 1,284,000 | 1,345,000 | |
| 1,157,000 | Aquatic Invasive Species Mngmt Acct - State | 1,030,645 | 1,157,000 | 1,038,000 | |
| 7,724,000 | Model Toxics Control Operating Acct - State | 2,979,000 | 7,724,000 | 9,831,000 | |
| 83,975,000 | Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State | 77,784,499 | 83,975,000 | 91,777,000 | |
| 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | Forest Resiliency Account - State | |||
| 3,398,000 | Climate Commitment Account - State | 3,398,000 | 3,565,000 | ||
| 5,748,000 | Natural Climate Solutions Account - State | 5,748,000 | 7,304,000 | ||
| 1,764,000 | 1,764,000 | SW Info Tech Sys Dev Rev Acct - State | 126,659 | ||
| Pension Funding Stabilization Acct - State | |||||
| 524,000 | Oyster Reserve Land Account - State | 390,778 | 524,000 | 524,000 | |
| Salary/Insurance Contrib Increase R - State | 10,000 | ||||
| 767,657,981 | 9,905,981 | Total Appropriated Funds | 601,525,755 | 757,752,000 | 823,847,000 |
Non-Appropriated Funds
Capital Budget: Summary
| Appropriated Funds | Expenditures | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Estimated Balance | Actual | Estimated | Proposed | |
| (3,483,000) | State Tax Bld Construction Account - | 3,483,000 | 3,250,000 | ||
| 125,313,280 | 280 | General Fund - Federal | 8,748,095 | 125,313,000 | 133,000,000 |
| 2,973,240 | 240 | Special Wildlife Account - Federal | 980,838 | 2,973,000 | 3,846,000 |
| 3,077,840 | (160) | General Fund - Private/Local | 168,427 | 3,078,000 | 3,999,000 |
| 3,513,700 | (300) | Special Wildlife Account - Private/Local | 974,066 | 3,514,000 | 4,343,000 |
| 154,416,320 | (680) | State Building Construction Account - State | 43,133,923 | 154,417,000 | 227,270,000 |
| 1,122,850 | (150) | Salmon Recovery Account - State | 1,877,157 | 1,123,000 | 161,000 |
| 3,051,590 | (100,410) | Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State | 350,214 | 3,152,000 | 3,622,000 |
| 8,647,000 | Model Toxics Control Capital Accoun - State | 8,647,000 | 8,647,000 | ||
| 500,000 | Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Acc - State | 500,000 | 201,000 | ||
| Forest Resiliency Account - State | 6,000,000 | ||||
| 3,483,000 | 3,483,000 | State Tax Bld Construction Account - State | |||
| 306,098,820 | (101,180) | Total Appropriated Funds | 62,232,721 | 306,200,000 | 388,339,000 |
Operating Budget: Program Summary
| Program Title | Actual | Estimated | Proposed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | Estimated | Estimated | Proposed | Proposed | |
| Annual Total | 349,744,849 | 354,660,502 | 158,211,297 | 411,673,000 | 412,582,000 |
Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium
| Actual | Estimated | Proposed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent |
| 127,288,229 | 26.8% | (88,653,956) | (14.7%) | 311,383,201 | 60.7% |
Employment Summary
| Actual | Estimated | Proposed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 Actual | 2023-24 Estimated | 2024-25 Estimated | 2025-26 Proposed | 2026-27 Proposed | |
| FTE Staff Years | 1,962.6 | 2,115.4 | 2,324.0 | 1,906.1 | 1,884.6 |
