Funding
Rebuilding healthy, harvestable salmon populations requires funding to restore and protect salmon habitat and address threats to salmon. This chart focuses on funding provided through grants administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
A 2011 study1 pegged the statewide cost of implementing habitat-related elements identified in regional salmon recovery plans for 2010-2019 at $4.7 billion in 2011 dollars. To date, $2.1 billion has been invested. While there has been progress and an increase in funding recently, overall funding continues to lag behind what is needed. As construction costs increase and habitat continues to decline, increased investment will be needed.
Federal and state investments in salmon recovery have increased in recent years. The federal government distributed infrastructure and climate-related funding, both of which benefited salmon recovery goals. The Washington State Legislature approved more than $1.1 billion in support of actions outlined in the 2023-2025 Biennial Work Plan to implement the Governor’s salmon strategy update.2 These infusions have been important to recovery, but sustained progress still requires significant ongoing funding.
As construction costs increase and habitat continues to decline, increased investment will be needed.
How is the Money Spent?
In all regions, the largest portion of funding managed by the Recreation and Conservation Office is slated for planning and repairing degraded habitat, as well as to buy land important for salmon.
The funding chart shows a summary of salmon recovery funds administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office from 1999-2024 by project type. To date, $2.1 billion has been invested in the following restoration grant programs:
- Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account
- Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board
- Chehalis Basin Strategy (through the Office of Financial Management)
- Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program
- Family Forest Fish Passage Program
- Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration fund
- Salmon Recovery Fund
- Washington Coastal Restoration and Resiliency Initiative
- Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program
Salmon Recovery Funding Board
The Salmon Recovery Funding Board awards grants for salmon recovery to groups across the state. Composed of five citizens appointed by the Governor, and five state agency directors, the board brings together the experiences and viewpoints of citizens and the major state natural resource agencies. The board, created in the Salmon Recovery Act of 1998, sets statewide policy and distributes state and federal funding. It has invested about $2 billion in salmon recovery projects. Its investment in eight regions and twenty-six lead entities engages thousands of people committed to implementing salmon recovery at the local level.
Federal Funding
Federal partners also provide important funding for salmon recovery in Washington State. The Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission are key federal partners.
Want to Learn More About Projects?
Information on individual projects can be viewed on the Recreation and Conservation Office’s Project Search and the Salmon Recovery Portal.
1Canty, D. (2011). Funding for Salmon Recovery in Washington State. Evergreen Funding Consultants, Olympia, WA.
2Triangle and Associates, Neatherlin, E., Abbott, J., Connelly, L., Goodsell, B., Austin, JT, (2021) Governor’s Salmon Strategy Update. Office of the Governor. Olympia, WA. https://rco.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GSRO-GovSalmonStrategy-2021.pdf, accessed on December 15, 2022.