Agency 477
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Recommendation Summary
Dollars in Thousands
Annual FTEsGeneral Fund-StateOther FundsTotal Funds
1995-97 Expenditure Authority1,559.068,947147,616216,563
Total Maintenance Level1,635.171,149179,082250,231
Difference76.12,20231,46633,668
Percent Change from Current Biennium4.9%3.2%21.3%15.5%
Performance Changes
Retrospective Rating Refund120120
Dam Maintenance and Safety1.5343343
Wildlands Stewardship160160
Wild Salmonid Recovery #8.71,6571,657
Watershed Management Proposal #20.83,1983,198
Puget Sound Action Plan #5.71,1171,117
General Inflation(753)(1,726)(2,479)
License Suspension #.33838
Subtotal - Performance Changes36.9(212)4,3664,154
Total Proposed Budget1,672.070,937183,448254,385
Difference113.01,99035,83237,822
Percent Change from Current Biennium7.2%2.9%24.3%17.5%
Performance Changes
Retrospective Rating Refund
The Department of Labor and Industries retrospective rating refund will be used to enhance safety programs at the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Activities will include safety equipment purchases. (Industrial Insurance Premium Refund Account)
Dam Maintenance and Safety
WDFW owns and operates 54 earthen dams which are currently out of compliance with state inspection and maintenance regulations. These dams are used primarily for habitat improvements and hatchery operations. Funding is provided for staff to inspect these dams and to begin required maintenance. The Department will also complete an evaluation on the need for these dams and report whether they should continue to be maintained or decommissioned.
Wildlands Stewardship
The Noxious Weed Control Board has identified an additional $1.8 million in costs necessary to implement a successful noxious weed control program on state lands. Additional funding is included to control new invader species on department owned or maintained lands.
Wild Salmonid Recovery #
The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed listing additional chinook, coho and steelhead in Washington as threatened or endangered. Staff are provided to cope with the additional federal permits, research, and consultations that these listings will require. The Department expects to adopt a Wild Salmonid Policy by the end of 1997. Funding is provided to begin implementation of this policy. Specific work will include a hatchery operations review to bring hatchery operations into conformance with the new policy and genetic stock identification work. An egg-take program for Dungeness Pink Salmon will be established for this very critical stock. These enhancements are part of the Governor’s watershed management proposal. (Water Resource Administration Account)
Watershed Management Proposal #
It is clear that water and salmon issues are best dealt with at the watershed level, through state/local partnerships. Funding is provided for WDFW participation on four interagency teams which will work with local watershed groups to develop and implement local watershed plans. A habitat monitoring program for indicator streams which will provide a clear indication of whether habitat is being maintained or degredated will also be initiated. An engineer will be hired to provide technical assistance to state agencies and local governments to implement habitat restoration projects. Staff will also provide the additional support to the Department of Ecology to reduce the water right permit backlog and establish instream flow standards. (Water Resource Administration Account)
Puget Sound Action Plan #
Funding is provided to implement components of the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Plan as part of the Governor’s watershed management proposal. Specific work will include technical support for wetlands preservation, coordination with public ports, the development of a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for bulkhead construction in Puget Sound, and the development of marine protected habitat areas within Puget Sound. (Water Resource Administration Account)
License Suspension #
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (federal welfare legislation) requires states to have laws providing for holding, suspending, or restricting the use of drivers, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses under specific circumstances in which child support is not paid. Funding is provided for the additional workload associated with the license suspension.
Agency MissionThe Department of Fish and Wildlife acts to ensure sustainable populations of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and their habitats for this and future generations.
Major Agency Strategies and Performance Measures
STRATEGY
Develop and implement landscape management plans to protect and restore ecosystems.
Performance Measure (Based on Maintenance Level)
Number of landscape/watershed plans assisted by the Department to promote fish and wildlife protection.
______1993-95 ______/ ______1995-97 ______/ ______1997-99 ______
FY 94 Actual / FY 95 Actual / FY 96 Actual / FY 97 Estimate / FY 98 Proposed / FY 99 Proposed
Output / 7 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 / 30
STRATEGY
Use the best available science to determine the status and needs of fish and wildlife and their habitats.
Performance Measure (Based on Maintenance Level)
Percentage of populations meeting spawning escapement objectives.
______1993-95 ______/ ______1995-97 ______/ ______1997-99 ______
FY 94 Actual / FY 95 Actual / FY 96 Actual / FY 97 Estimate / FY 98 Proposed / FY 99 Proposed
Outcome / 60% / 60% / 60% / 60% / 60% / 60%
Performance Measure (Based on Maintenance Level)
Percentage of salmon and steelhead populations annually surveyed.
______1993-95 ______/ ______1995-97 ______/ ______1997-99 ______
FY 94 Actual / FY 95 Actual / FY 96 Actual / FY 97 Estimate / FY 98 Proposed / FY 99 Proposed
Output / 75% / 75% / 75% / 75% / 75% / 75%
STRATEGY
Promote compliance with laws and regulations that protect or mitigate impact to fish, wildlife, and their ecosystems.
Performance Measure (Based on Maintenance Level)
Number of public contacts by enforcement officers.
______1993-95 ______/ ______1995-97 ______/ ______1997-99 ______
FY 94 Actual / FY 95 Actual / FY 96 Actual / FY 97 Estimate / FY 98 Proposed / FY 99 Proposed
Output / 337,000 / 370,000 / 410,000 / 450,000 / 490,000 / 530,000
Performance Measure (Based on Maintenance Level)
Number of problem wildlife responses.
______1993-95 ______/ ______1995-97 ______/ ______1997-99 ______
FY 94 Actual / FY 95 Actual / FY 96 Actual / FY 97 Estimate / FY 98 Proposed / FY 99 Proposed
Output / 2,000 / 2,000 / 2,200 / 2,400 / 2,600 / 2,800
STRATEGY
Provide a broad range of consumptive and nonconsumptive opportunities consistent with public desires for the use of fish and wildlife resources within management constraints, including resource protection, tribal cooperative agreements, and legal mandates.
Performance Measure (Based on Maintenance Level)
Pounds of fish produced at state hatcheries (in millions).
______1993-95 ______/ ______1995-97 ______/ ______1997-99 ______
FY 94 Actual / FY 95 Actual / FY 96 Actual / FY 97 Estimate / FY 98 Proposed / FY 99 Proposed
Output / 7.4 / 7.4 / 7.4 / 7.4 / 7.4 / 7.4
STRATEGY
Manage and maintain agency-owned or agency-controlled lands and sites to support fish and wildlife functions and ecosystems.
Performance Measure (Based on the Wildlands Stewardship Performance Change Item)
Acres of noxious weeds controlled for Purple Loosestrife, Spartina, and other weeds.
______1993-95 ______/ ______1995-97 ______/ ______1997-99 ______
FY 94 Actual / FY 95 Actual / FY 96 Actual / FY 97 Estimate / FY 98 Proposed / FY 99 Proposed
Output / 10,121 / 10,305 / 10,893 / 11,322 / 11,522 / 11,522
STRATEGY
Provide accessible, helpful, timely and informative customer service to meet public needs.
Performance Measure (Based on Maintenance Level)
Number of hours worked by volunteers.
______1993-95 ______/ ______1995-97 ______/ ______1997-99 ______
FY 94 Actual / FY 95 Actual / FY 96 Actual / FY 97 Estimate / FY 98 Proposed / FY 99 Proposed
Outcome / 36,000 / 42,000 / 52,000 / 55,000 / 55,000 / 55,000