July/August Director’s Bulletin
In spring 2023, WDFW received landmark legislative funding dedicated to protecting and restoring biodiversity in Washington. That critical work is now well underway.
In August, we funded 16 grants, allocating $1.1 million to fund wildlife diversity projects statewide. These grants advance a range of actions and data collection efforts that will support recovery of at least 20 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) representing a variety of wildlife species in Washington.
Throughout Puget Sound, we’ve dramatically expanded our capacity to engage with local jurisdictions on comprehensive land use plans and critical areas ordinances under the Growth Management Act, helping protect fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. Thanks to additional equipment and staff, we’re working alongside partners such as the Puget Sound Restoration Fund in the Salish Sea to reintroduce record numbers of pinto abalone, an endangered marine snail that plays a critical role in maintaining healthy kelp forests and rocky reef habitat, which ultimately help support salmon and orcas.
These projects, along with hundreds of others across the state, would not be possible without this legislative appropriation. We’ve increased our capacity to help protect and recover at-risk species and their habitats, develop efforts to evaluate and manage other SGCN, and engage in crucial public education and outreach efforts to develop environmental stewards for current and future generations.
The work funded through these investments is positively impacting not only species and habitats, but the health of Washington’s communities. This initial investment in biodiversity restoration will help avoid costly species recovery and listings under the federal Endangered Species Act, ensure the health of pollinators, protect the habitats that provide us with clean air and water, and enhance the health and happiness of Washington’s current and future generations by protecting the wildlife and wild places that make our state special.
Earlier this month, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved our operating budget request for $14.3M in the 2025–27 biennium for the second phase of our approach to ensure we have the resources to implement the State Wildlife Action Plan.
As the director of WDFW, I am proud of the work we are implementing with these investments — they provide the best foundation to restore and enhance Washington’s biodiversity for generations to come.
You can learn more about WDFW and partners’ work to restore and protect biodiversity in Washington and watch our new video series on WDFW’s biodiversity webpage.
Sincerely,
Kelly Susewind, Director
Topics in this message include:
Chronic wasting disease confirmed for the first time in Washington
Washington’s first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in a white-tailed deer found dead in north Spokane County.
CWD is a fatal illness of cervids (deer, elk, moose, and caribou). The disease is caused by mutated proteins known as prions, which can contaminate the environment and be transmitted between animals through feces, saliva, and urine.
In an effort to manage the spread of CWD, WDFW has filed multiple emergency rules that may impact hunters in Region 1. Please review the Emergency rule changes and Frequently asked CWD questions for more information on how confirmation of this disease in our state could impact you as a hunter. Information on CWD in general is also on the WDFW website.
The Salmon Fishing Current blog provides timely in-season updates
At the conclusion of the 2024–2025 North of Falcon salmon season setting process this past spring, WDFW created The Salmon Fishing Current blog. Since late June, the blog keeps anglers regularly informed in a clear and concise way of any in-season fishing rule changes, emergency closures, or other related developments in Puget Sound, the coast, and Columbia River.
Washington’s salmon fisheries are one of the most complex fishery management systems in the world, and WDFW fishery managers work hard to keep the public informed on sport fishing-related regulations. WDFW staff share your frustration when opportunities for scheduled seasons change or close sooner than expected. You can read more by visiting the WDFW blog.
Strong sockeye returns to Baker Lake, Lake Wenatchee, and Columbia River
More than 47,800 sockeye salmon returned to the Baker River near Concrete this year, supporting recreational and tribal fisheries on the Skagit River and a very popular fishery on Baker Lake. A mix of hatchery and wild-spawning fish, the Baker Lake sockeye program is a collaborative effort between WDFW, the Upper Skagit and Swinomish tribes, and Puget Sound Energy. With strong returns of sockeye to Baker Lake in 2023 and 2024, WDFW is using surplus adult salmon to help recover struggling sockeye runs in Lake Washington in coordination with the Muckleshoot Tribe and Seattle Public Utilities, and in Lake Cushman in coordination with the Skokomish Tribe and Tacoma Power. More information is available on WDFW’s website.
In north central Washington, 2024 has been a record year with more than 165,071 sockeye counted at Tumwater Dam on the Wenatchee River near Leavenworth. This figure surpasses the previous record by 54,378 fish and is 68,071 fish over the preseason forecast of 97,000. When looking at the sockeye counts between Rock Island Dam and Rocky Reach Dam, the run could be over 175,000 by the end of the season. Learn more in WDFW’s blog post.
Lake Wenatchee sockeye are part of the broader Columbia River sockeye run. Bonneville Dam, the first dam on the Columbia River above the Pacific Ocean, also set a new sockeye record this year with 755,594 fish counted through Aug. 4 — an impressive 92,000 more than the previous record.
Join us on Sept. 28 for National Hunting and Fishing Day
You’re invited! Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing (NHF) Day with us. NHF Day is a great, family-oriented way to introduce youth to target shooting, hunting, and fishing. It’s also an opportunity to recognize that hunters and anglers continue to be among the most active supporters of wildlife management and conservation.
This year’s event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Cowlitz Public Shooting Range located at 1000 Toutle Park Rd, Castle Rock, WA 98611. Visit WDFW’s website to pre-register and learn more.
Youth under 18 who attend the event with an accompanying adult can shoot WDFW firearms, archery equipment, and air rifles for free. Agency staff and WDFW hunter education instructors will teach shooting safety and provide instruction and guidance.
Invasive mussels threaten Washington’s environment
On Monday, Aug. 5, WDFW received notification from a local wholesale aquarium company in Renton of possible invasive freshwater mussels on a shipment of Marimo moss balls. Lab testing confirmed they were zebra mussels, a prohibited aquatic invasive species that, if established in local waters, would be capable of causing significant damage to the environment and infrastructure. Zebra mussels and a close relative, the quagga mussel, are not known to be established in Washington.
WDFW rapidly responded and is leading testing, state-level communications, and the destruction of contaminated products. We are working alongside industry, state, and federal partners on this incident, and we wish to thank and highlight all partners working together to keep Washington’s waters free from invasive species. More information is available in WDFW’s news release. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating importation and distribution of moss balls nationally.
Boaters, anglers, kayakers, and others can help prevent the spread of invasive mussels by using Clean, Drain, Dry practices. We have tips available online and in this news release. Invasive species, which include aquatic plants and animals, can attach themselves on the surface of a boat, motors, trailers, and other equipment. That includes non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks and inflatable paddleboards, and any equipment that touches the water including boots and waders.
State Wildlife Action Plan meetings
WDFW is updating its State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). Washington’s SWAP is a comprehensive plan for conserving the state’s fish and wildlife and the natural habitats on which they depend. It is part of a nationwide effort by all 50 states and five U.S. territories to develop conservation action plans and participate in the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program. The purpose of the SWG Program is to support state actions that broadly benefit wildlife and habitats, but particularly “Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) (PDF)” as identified by each individual state. WDFW held the first of three public meetings on Aug. 28. Refer to the meeting recording for more information.
For more information on the SWAP and future public engagement opportunities please visit WDFW’s website.
Fish and Wildlife Commission seeking input on updated Grays Harbor Salmon Policy
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is looking for public feedback on possible revisions to its Grays Harbor Salmon Management Policy. The public is invited to review and submit comments on the draft policy through Sept. 15.
The Grays Harbor Basin Salmon Management Policy provides guidance to WDFW to promote conservation of Chinook, coho, and chum salmon in Grays Harbor Basin — including major fishing areas such as the Chehalis, Satsop, and Humptulips rivers — as well as the economic well-being and stability of commercial and recreational fishing in Washington.
The draft policy (PDF) is now available for public review. Public comment will be accepted via the public input webpage. More information is available in the Department’s news release.
Trailhead Ambassador Program in the Methow Valley
This spring, WDFW launched an initiative in partnership with Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust at wildlife area trailheads and water access areas in Kittitas County and continued the program in the Methow Valley with the Methow Valley Trails Collaborative.
In recent years, we’ve seen a significant rise in visitors to WDFW-managed lands. Many of these visitors are new to outdoor recreation and may not be familiar with how to enjoy these spaces safely and responsibly. The Trailhead Ambassador Program addresses this need by stationing volunteer ambassadors at popular entry points to welcome visitors, provide information, and offer education on safe and responsible recreation practices.
Learn more about the program in WDFW’s recent blog post.
Fish and Wildlife Commission votes on changes to cougar hunting
During its July 2024 meeting, the Commission approved changes to cougar hunting seasons. The new rule establishes the Washington cougar hunting season from Sept. 1 to March 31, sets a cap of 13 percent of each population management unit (PMU) using a specific statewide density, and includes all known human-caused cougar mortalities to determine when to close a PMU during the season.
More information is available in WDFW’s news release.
Chehalis Basin habitat projects underway to restore aquatic species
Five key projects started or continued this summer in Western Washington under the Aquatic Species Restoration Plan (ASRP), a main component of the ongoing Chehalis Basin Strategy.
The ASRP was drafted by representatives from WDFW, the Quinault Indian Nation, and Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, along with other technical experts. The team worked with community members, the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Office of Chehalis Basin, state agencies, and local governments to shape the plan and develop an implementation strategy.
The Chehalis Basin is comprised of nearly 3,400 miles of streams and rivers that provide critical habitat to fish and amphibians, including salmon and the federally endangered Oregon spotted frog.
The projects are designed to restore habitat for Chinook salmon, steelhead, and other aquatic species and to help protect communities and landscapes from flood damage. They include habitat restoration along rivers and streams in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties. Learn more in WDFW’s recent blog post.
