Figured it was only a matter of time until the economic carnage brought brought on by Covid-19 hit the budgets of various agencies.
"As it stands, WDFW’s proposed reductions amount to:
$5.7 million for fisheries and management, reduced crab outreach and lost gear recovery, along with less lake rehabs, and at least five game wardens
$5.2 million for salmon and steelhead production that would see closure of Reiter Ponds, Tokul Creek, Forks Creek, Nemah, Whitehorse and Mayr Bros hatcheries, and reductions in fish produced for orcas;
$2.7 million for lands management, wildlife area planning, Westside pheasant program, and at least three officers;
$2.7 million for conservation efforts;
$2.4 million for warmwater gamefish management, along with closure of the Meseberg hatchery;
$2.0 million for trout production that would see the closure of Arlington, Chelan, Naches and Mossyrock hatcheries, impacting a $61 million annual fishery;
And $1.3 million for programs that partner with volunteers to benefit fish and wildlife.
WDFW documents say that a $2.8 million shortfall from Pittman-Robertson excise taxes on guns and ammo would lead to reduced big game work and only half as much elk feeding, while $800,000 in Dingell-Johnson shortfalls would lead to netpen closures on Mayfield Lake and of the Omak Hatchery.
Hatchery grant shortfalls of $2.6 million would impact Toutle, Skamania and Elwha hatcheries, along with fisheries on the Columbia and its tribs."
As it stands, WDFW’s proposed reductions amount to:
$5.7 million for fisheries and management, reduced crab outreach and lost gear recovery, along with less lake rehabs, and at least five game wardens
$5.2 million for salmon and steelhead production that would see closure of Reiter Ponds, Tokul Creek, Forks Creek, Nemah, Whitehorse and Mayr Bros hatcheries, and reductions in fish produced for orcas;
$2.7 million for lands management, wildlife area planning, Westside pheasant program, and at least three officers;
$2.7 million for conservation efforts;
$2.4 million for warmwater gamefish management, along with closure of the Meseberg hatchery;
$2.0 million for trout production that would see the closure of Arlington, Chelan, Naches and Mossyrock hatcheries, impacting a $61 million annual fishery;
And $1.3 million for programs that partner with volunteers to benefit fish and wildlife.
WDFW documents say that a $2.8 million shortfall from Pittman-Robertson excise taxes on guns and ammo would lead to reduced big game work and only half as much elk feeding, while $800,000 in Dingell-Johnson shortfalls would lead to netpen closures on Mayfield Lake and of the Omak Hatchery.
Hatchery grant shortfalls of $2.6 million would impact Toutle, Skamania and Elwha hatcheries, along with fisheries on the Columbia and its tribs.
WDFW identifies a jarring set of potential cuts tallying nearly $31 million due to budget reductions and other funding shortfalls for the Fish and Wildlife Commission begin discussing.
nwsportsmanmag.com