The Eagle Outdoors

Apparently, the Cowlitz River wasn’t good enough for this year’s run of Columbia River smelt, otherwise known as eulachon. Instead, the little silver fish bypassed their traditional tributary here in southwest Washington and continued up the main stem into Oregon’s Sandy River.

On Tuesday, March 25, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced a surprise one-day smelt season along a specific section of the Sandy River to be held on Thursday, March 27, from noon until 7 p.m. Dippers were under the same rules as they were in Washington: fishing license required; individual buckets; limit of 10 pounds; and no boats.

Based on what I’ve seen and have been told, it was one-dip limits, and then folks were off to burgers, fries, and chocolate banana shakes at their local drive-in. According to a story posted by KGW News, this was the first smelt season on the Sandy since the ODFW offered a one-day dip in 2023. Prior to that, there was a two-day event in 2015. Well, fellow Washingtonians, there’s always next year.

A last minute note I caught quickly before school on Monday was that ODFW law enforcement personnel seized 2,500 pounds of illegally harvested smelt “during a poaching prevention operation conducted in conjunction with Oregon State Police,” according to a story written on the Oregon Public Broadcasting website (OPG.org). Citations were written, and the smelt were donated to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. A tip of the hunting cap goes to ODFW and OSP law enforcement for being vigilant and proactive.

The WDFW and The Budget

I am not a political nor legislative ‘reporter,’ per se. I know enough about the processes to keep myself reasonably informed, but not enough to hold an in-depth, down to the proverbial “nitty-gritty” debate as to why this or why not that. That being said, there’s a lot going on with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) at the moment in regards to the Washington State House and Senate’s proposed budgets for the 2025-27 biennium, which was released for public consumption and/or digestion on Monday, March 24. In terms of the WDFW specifically, the following comes from the agency’s website:

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife respectfully submits the operating budget request for the 2025-27 biennium, as approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Department recognizes revenue forecasts are lower than expected and the state faces uncertainty regarding revenue from the Climate Commitment Act and the capital gains taxes.

While this budget request is sizable, it is important to note that all natural resources agencies combined receive less than 1.5 percent of the General Fund. Yet funding our agencies yields a significant return on investment through increased recreational and commercial opportunities, as well as the preservation and restoration of our ecosystems for present and future generations.

The 2022 National Survey for Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago demonstrates that funding WDFW stimulates the economy. Participants in Washington spent $15.3 billion on fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing in 2022, directly benefiting local economies through trip expenditures and the state’s economy through sales tax revenue, which is then reinvested in other critical public services.

In the 2023-25 biennium, the legislature appropriated $15.5 million per year towards restoring Washington’s biodiversity. Our species, ecosystems, and natural landscapes are foundational to our cultural heritage, providing a sense of what it means to be a Washingtonian. Washingtonians deserve a Fish and Wildlife Agency that delivers on outcomes. Funding the Department’s current program and services while investing in new policy initiatives allows WDFW to be proactive in meeting our commitments to the Legislature and its citizens.

Digging a bit further, I found the following:

The WDFW submitted its largest operating budget request totaling over $130 million and 30 separate decision packages, as well as a $998 million capital budget request for the 2025-27 biennium. The Department will monitor budget requests for the 2025-27 budget as part of the statewide budget that the Washington State Legislature will adopt during the legislative session in early 2025.

The WDFW site outlines funding requests from WDFW for ‘Phase II’ of on-going projects (seals/sea lions predation and the continued operation of the Toutle and Skamania salmon/steelhead hatcheries), as well as a link to the agency’s complete 2025-27 capital budget request. Just in case you were wondering, the Elochoman Hatchery is in there.

In the cover letter, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind writes, “Washingtonians have a keen interest in the state’s fish and wildlife resources, whether for recreational, commercial, or aesthetic reasons. Renovating hatcheries and improving recreational access and wildlife areas increases recreational opportunities for the public. This, in turn, provides a greater economic benefit for local economies in Washington. According to the most recent estimates from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation supports over 120,000 jobs for Washingtonians and generated over $20 billion in value added across the state economy.”

My point, you ask? I’m the same guy who began this diatribe by claiming not to be political or legislative. The same guy whose fiscal knowledge is limited to knowing whether or not he has $6 in his wallet at any given time. Yet, I find these documents fascinating, especially the amounts of money necessary to keep all these outdoor moving parts…well…moving. Every dollar counts; fishing license, hunting license, etc. Every time you buy shotgun shells or a fishing rod, it helps.