The Department is working on a 25-year strategic plan to help preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and habitat while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreation and commercial opportunities.

We need your help. What actions do we start with? What have we forgotten? 

Question Title

* 1. Are you a... (choose best description)

Question Title

* 2. Do you have any overarching feedback for the Department on this effort?

Question Title

* 3. To connect people to nature and conservation through recreation and stewardship, please rank the actions we should do from most urgent (1) to least urgent (7). 

  1. Ensure that implementation of the WDFW Recreation Strategy provides for a broad spectrum of diverse outdoor opportunities, in a sustainable manner.
  2. Develop and expand partnerships to promote recreation and stewardship opportunities on all lands, including urban areas.
  3. Vastly expand, promote, and offer incentives for backyard wildlife habitat programs.
  4. Create and promote education opportunities on wildlife areas (particularly in urban centers) and on school grounds.
  5. Expand and improve public access opportunities.
  6. Develop a robust volunteer recognition program for stewardship and education achievement.
  7. Develop and implement an interpretive program for wildlife and wildflower viewing experiences.

Question Title

* 4. To deliver science that informs Washington's most pressing fish and wildlife questions, please rank the following actions we should do from most to least urgent.

  1. Develop, prioritize and deliver a science agenda to assess existing science, improve cross-discipline collaboration, and identify partnership opportunities.
  2. Implement science communication training and strategies.
  3. Develop a robust data and analysis system that modernizes open data and access to information.
  4. Pursue ways to increase community science in conservation efforts.
  5. Expand opportunities for community science.
  6. Better communication (be more transparent) the role of science in agency management decisions.

Question Title

* 5. To proactively address conservation challenges, please rank the following actions we should do, from most urgent (1) to least urgent (11).

  1. Develop a Statewide Hatchery Monitoring and Evaluation Plan to adaptively manage programs to minimize risk to wild stocks. 
  2. Shape Washington's State Wildlife Action Plan to reflect this strategic plan's priorities. 
  3. Vastly expand current efforts to manage and recover at-risk fish and wildlife species. 
  4. Collaboratively improve and develop more effective landowner incentives for conservation.
  5. Work with others to leverage expertise and secure new and stable funds for enhanced conservation.
  6. Ensure that land use planning and decisions are contributing to the conservation and recovery of fish and wildlife.
  7. Work with partners toward implementation of net ecological gain (overall environmental improvement). 
  8. Develop and implement a WDFW Climate Resilience Plan.
  9. Lead a statewide conservation road map in collaboration with partners for landscape-scale ecosystem recovery.
  10. Implement a co-manager habitat work plan as part of salmon recovery and improve salmon and steelhead populations that are limiting fishing opportunities. 
  11. Develop and implement a WDFW invasive species response plan. 

Question Title

* 6. To build passionate constituencies through community engagement, please rank the following actions from most urgent (1) to least urgent (12).

  1. Connect with youth and young adults (the next generation) through K-12 education and young adult employment programs.
  2. Develop a R3 plan to better recruit, retain, and reactivate anglers, hunters, and those who enjoy outdoor recreation.
  3. Invest in and use social science to understand how to effectively serve our public and tailor our services and outreach appropriately.
  4. Prioritize methods and technologies that can increase the visibility of our work.
  5. Make decision-making processes more accessible and transparent.
  6. Drive community science that creates stronger awareness and stewardship of fish and wildlife.
  7. Expand WDFW's volunteer program, with our partners, to advance a broader range of Department goals.
  8. Build capacity for facilitating public engagement in planning and resource stewardship.
  9. Build engagement with advisory committees and groups for more effective implementation of our mission.
  10. Expand WDFW's influence in decision making around mission-related issues by participating in technical review boards or professional societies.
  11. Champion partner efforts to collaboratively achieve shared objectives.
  12. Advance implementation of existing conservation and natural resource state education requirements.

Question Title

* 7. To move WDFW towards operational and environmental excellence, please rank the following actions we should do from most urgent (1) to least urgent (10).

  1. Commit to adaptive management through the use of performance measures, and share results with the public.
  2. Increase decision transparency with video and digital tools.
  3. Enact additional Fish and Wildlife Commission networking and relationship-building methods to hear directly from constituents and the public.
  4. Support and implement recommendations of the Diversity Advisory Committee and track data to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels in our work force.
  5. Develop an implementation plan for advancing agency values.
  6. Identify actions to improve cross-program/region synchronization and deployment of staff resources.
  7. Develop best practices for staff retention and preparing staff for advancement and leadership roles.
  8. Consolidate data platforms across programs.
  9. Develop and implement a WDFW environmental sustainability plan (i.e. minimize carbon footprint, reduce environmental impacts of work).
  10. Seek to further strengthen employee satisfaction.

Question Title

* 8. Are there important action that we're forgetting to include? 

Question Title

* 9. Is there an item that has you either concerned, or inspired? 

Question Title

* 10. Please share if you'd like to be notified of future news regarding this draft plan.

Question Title

* 11. In what part of the state do you live?

Thank you for your time. We value your feedback.

If you have questions, please contact the WDFW strategic planning team at strategic@dfw.wa.gov.