July/August 2025 Director’s Bulletin
Our mission depends on partnerships. The work of conserving fish, wildlife, and the natural landscapes we all treasure is too big for any one organization to do alone. That’s why the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), alongside tribal governments, relies on a wide network of partners — local community groups, volunteers, non-profit organizations, landowners, businesses, schools, researchers, and other public agencies — who bring unique expertise, perspectives, and capacity. Together, we’re restoring habitats, creating opportunities for outdoor recreation, and finding innovative solutions to complex challenges. Partnerships don’t just help us move our mission forward — they make it possible.
From grants supporting wildlife diversity and watchable wildlife projects to community outreach and hunter education with tribal leaders, many stories in this edition showcase how we’re working together to protect fish, wildlife, and habitat as well as to connect people with nature. Partnerships are also a critical part of how we’re engaging future generations of conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts.
Another timely example is an ongoing collaboration between WDFW, Bellingham Technical College (BTC), Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Lummi Nation, and the Nooksack Indian Tribe, which is resulting in thousands of Chinook salmon returning to Whatcom Creek in downtown Bellingham this season.
This innovative partnership creates hands-on opportunities for students from BTC’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences program to learn how to raise salmon and operate a fish hatchery, preparing them for jobs with the state, tribes, or other agencies or businesses. At the same time, it helps provide food for struggling Southern Resident killer whales during the salmon’s return migration through the Salish Sea, as was recommended by the Southern Resident Orca Task Force.
On top of benefits for students and orcas, the collaboration at Whatcom Creek creates opportunities for both recreational and tribal fishers — including special tribal youth fishing days — in an accessible urban area where a boat or other expensive gear is not necessary.
We’re seeing strong community benefits, too, with many Bellingham residents and visitors getting to see Chinook right in the heart of the city, mere steps from a metro bus stop, and learning about treaty rights and salmon co-management. WDFW and the City of Bellingham recently posted signs sharing information about the program, and the City’s volunteer ambassadors are trained to answer questions about the salmon lifecycle and local fisheries.
We’re proud of this valuable collaboration, and grateful for the support from our co-managers, partners, and the Bellingham community.
Chinook began arriving at Whatcom Creek in mid-August and will continue returning into October. For more information as well as fishing regulations, refer to our news release. Additional photos can be found in this month’s presentation to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Looking to see salmon in your area? Visit WDFW’s salmon viewing webpage for tips and places to go.
Sincerely,
Kelly Susewind
WDFW Director
Other topics in this issue include:
WDFW awards $1 million in Wildlife Diversity Grants for at-risk species
WDFW has announced the next round of Wildlife Diversity Grant recipients, awarding approximately $1 million to support eight collaborative projects over the next two years. This significant investment focuses on Washington’s most at-risk wildlife species, reflecting WDFW’s broader strategy for long-term species recovery.
These grants include both crucial second-phase funding for ongoing successful projects and support for new proposals addressing emerging conservation needs statewide. Projects range from protecting rare snakes and monitoring endangered shorebirds to creating artificial burrows for burrowing owls and controlling invasive bullfrog populations. This initiative demonstrates WDFW’s commitment to sustained, collaborative, science-based action, investing in both momentum and innovation for biodiversity conservation. We anticipate continued funding and look forward to expanding these vital efforts.
Refer to our news release for more information.
Hope on the edge of the abyss: northern spotted owl family raises fledglings in Eastern Washington
On Aug. 6, WDFW and USFS staff witnessed a remarkable conservation milestone: A northern spotted owl pair nesting north of I‑90 in the East Cascades successfully raised two fledglings — the only known breeding young in that region this year. This compelling observation offers a rare glimmer of hope amid steep population declines driven by habitat loss, wildfires, and invasive barred owl competition.
Despite this success, the species remains fragile, with juvenile survival rates low and threats mounting. WDFW emphasizes the urgency of a multifaceted recovery strategy: protecting mature forest habitat, implementing barred owl management, and exploring population support efforts such as translocation and headstarting.
This sighting reinforces that, with proactive, coordinated action across state, federal, and tribal partners, recovery of this iconic Pacific Northwest indicator species is still within reach. Read more about the encounter and spotted owls in our blog post
Wildlife Viewing and Nature Tourism Academy
WDFW and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Wildlife Viewing and Nature Tourism Working Group are pleased to announce that online registration is open for the sixth Wildlife Viewing and Nature Tourism Academy that will be held in Seattle from Feb. 16–20, 2026. Professionals from state, federal, municipal, nonprofit, private, and academic organizations and institutions come to the Academy to share and discuss real-world examples, case studies, and processes for nature tourism programs and wildlife-viewing projects throughout North America. Make plans to join us- early bird registration lasts through Nov. 30!
Tribal leaders and WDFW team up to teach the next generation of hunters
Since 2013, WDFW has partnered with nearly 20 Native American tribes to offer hunter education courses across Washington — primarily in the Coastal and North Puget Sound regions, which are home to many of the state’s treaty tribes.
Many tribal members choose to take the state’s hunter education class to strengthen their safety practices and feel best prepared for the field. WDFW certifies tribal members to teach classes on their own and can provide additional teaching support with Department staff and other certified instructors when needed.
Learn more in our blog post, produced in collaboration with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
Coastal steelhead rule making
WDFW is proposing modifying permanent regulations for steelhead, game fish, and trout seasons in rivers on the western Olympic Peninsula, Grays Harbor, and Willapa Bay.
Because of low coastal steelhead returns, state and tribal fishery managers have frequently made significant changes to fisheries, resulting in emergency regulations that differ from the annual Washington Sport Fishing Rules. Preliminary data from 2024–25 steelhead returns indicates most areas are again below escapement goals.
WDFW’s public rule making process aims to balance wild steelhead conservation with more consistent, stable opportunities for anglers. The Department held two virtual public meetings this summer, along with inviting public comment through multiple avenues. Following upcoming Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission presentations, the Department aims to enact final rules by January 2026.
Learn more on WDFW’s coastal steelhead management webpage.
A new way of looking at Washington’s waterways
Riparian areas are places where land and water intermingle, like the banks of a river or the marshy land around a stream. Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems meet in these spaces, playing a role for a huge number of fish and wildlife species — in fact, more than three-quarters of Washington’s land-based species use riparian areas as habitat.
Because of their importance to the state’s fish and wildlife and the wide variety of species they support, riparian ecosystems are designated as a priority habitat in Washington, and WDFW works hard to conserve and restore these areas wherever possible.
A groundbreaking new tool years in the making,the Riparian Data Engine (RDE) underscores this commitment by offering a platform that combines multiple data sources to provide the most comprehensive view yet of the state’s riparian ecosystems. This tool helps everyone from state and federal land managers and tribes conducting large-scale restoration projects, to county or city planners mapping out the future of their communities, and even private landowners who want to better understand and responsibly manage their own property where it backs up to a creek or wetland. Refer to WDFW’s blog post for more information.
Looking back on a panel discussion
WDFW Director Kelly Susewind recently joined former Nisqually Tribal Council Chair Willie Frank III and Taylor Shellfish’s Bill Dewey for a panel on salmon recovery and co‑management in Washington. The conversation was part of “Honoring the Waters: Tribal Sovereignty, Salmon Recovery, and Co‑Management in Washington,” a workshop hosted by the Pacific Education Institute and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The workshop included a screening of the documentary Fish War and a discussion of the Boldt Decision, the history of treaty rights, and the ongoing work of the state and tribal co-managers to restore salmon. Director Susewind and workshop leaders highlighted classroom resources available for educators, including the State of Salmon unit plan for upper elementary students, which is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
This event gave educators the chance to connect directly with tribal members, WDFW leadership, and natural resource partners while exploring ways to bring salmon education and co‑management into Washington classrooms.
New video series: big-game processing
WDFW’s new six-part video series on big-game processing is designed to help hunters get started with processing wild game at home.
The series covers essential topics including setting up a workspace, selecting and sharpening knives, aging game meat, breaking down front and hind quarters, trimming cuts, grinding burger, and properly wrapping and storing meat to ensure the best results at the dinner table. Along the way, you’ll also hear cooking suggestions for specific cuts that are sure to impress friends and family.
Refer to WDFW’s YouTube page for the full playlist.
Join us for National Hunting and Fishing Day
National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrations are happening across Washington in September, offering opportunities to enjoy outdoor sports, conservation, and share pride in the conservation successes led by hunters and anglers across the nation. Join WDFW and partners for family-friendly activities:
- East Wenatchee, Sept. 13: Enjoy educational displays, conservation booths, rod-and-reel casting, and supervised shooting with WDFW firearms and archery equipment at the North Central Washington Gun Club. Food, door prizes, and giveaways for youth are included. Pre-register youth participants and find more details on the event webpage.
- Waitsburg, Sept. 20: Join us for educational displays, cooking demos, arts and crafts, bow-and-arrow building, and a survival skills clinic. Youth may participate in supervised shooting with WDFW firearms and archery equipment. Food, giveaways, and prizes will be available. Learn more on the event webpage.
Volunteers are needed to make these events a success. Interested? Sign up online.
Think Pink Salmon
WDFW is putting a focus on pink salmon in Washington over the next several weeks with “Think Pink Salmon!” Both experienced and new anglers can learn all about this odd-year opportunity. The fishing highlights on myWDFW.org will feature informative blog posts all about pink salmon, and WDFW’s social media will also have some short videos and educational posts. The campaign continues into September as the salmon move from Puget Sound into local rivers.
