WDFW outlines Region 5 projects in Cowlitz County: Toutle fish facility, hatchery work, deer collaring and hoof disease response

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Southwest Region Director Ryan Salee and program managers briefed the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners at a workshop on regional projects, fish and wildlife monitoring, and disease and enforcement priorities affecting Cowlitz County.

“We are dedicated to preserving, protecting, and perpetuating the state's fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities,” Salee said as he opened the presentation and introduced program staff from fish, wildlife, habitat and enforcement.

Key WDFW updates and projects for Cowlitz County

- Toutle Fish Collection Facility: WDFW and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are updating the North Fork Toutle River fish collection facility to improve collection efficiency and transport survival for salmon and steelhead and to facilitate reintroduction above the sediment retention structure (SRS). Salee said the project is at about 60% design and construction is scheduled for 2026–27; the agency described the cost share with the Army Corps as an 80/20 arrangement. WDFW also said the design will include lamprey passage.

- Hydropower and fish passage: WDFW described ongoing hydropower engagement, including PacifiCorp’s Lewis Fish Passage project (60% design for two upstream and one downstream passage) and coordination with Tacoma Power on hatchery and genetic-management planning and transition plans.

- Hatcheries and funding: WDFW said the Southwest Region operates 14 hatchery facilities and that six hatchery sites are located in Cowlitz County. The agency discussed federal funding constraints (Mitchell Act and other federal sources), the role of federal permits under the Endangered Species Act, and that two hatcheries (North Tewdle on the Green River and Skamania on the Washougal River) were on a list proposed for reduction because of funding and permitting constraints. Staff said reductions are driven by a combination of funding levels, permit limits, and the goal of recovering natural-origin populations.

- Fish monitoring and recovery: WDFW reported on salmon and steelhead monitoring, noted the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board’s assessment that many populations remain at low viability, and described the agency’s role in hydropower technical forums, habitat restoration, and recovery planning.

- Northern Pikeminnow Program: The agency described the long-running, BPA-funded northern pikeminnow removal and reward program, noting it averages about 165,000 fish harvested annually and that 5.59 million fish have been removed since 1991.

- Wildlife areas and land access: WDFW described four wildlife areas in the region totaling over 54,000 acres and 80-plus water-access sites. The agency highlighted private-lands hunting-access partnerships that provide mentored hunting experiences and pheasant releases and said the region administers more than 75,000 acres of access lands overall.

- Local acquisitions and surveys: WDFW said it is purchasing about 7,500 acres in the Hofstad area, and the agency described a planned black-tailed deer collaring project in Cowlitz County aiming to collar up to 80 deer to improve population estimates and detectability metrics where aerial surveys are impractical.

- Enforcement and habitat work: WDFW reported Region 5 currently has 19 enforcement officers, described enforcement priorities (public-safety response, habitat protection, outreach) and said habitat staff administer the Hydraulic Code and advise local governments on growth-management and restoration.

Disease, hunter incentives and public questions

Commissioners and attendees asked detailed questions during a 50-minute discussion.

- License fees: Commissioners raised concerns about a reported 38% increase in license fees and asked where revenue flows. WDFW staff said the fee proposal originated from a legislative request and that the proposal as explained to the agency would offset a reduction in WDFW general-fund support so the agency’s net revenue would not necessarily increase; WDFW staff said they do not set state appropriation or budget policy.

- Black-tailed deer study: Dr. Saundra Jonker (Wildlife Program) said aerial surveys are costly and less effective in dense habitat; the collaring and camera-detection approach will allow WDFW to estimate detectability and population size to inform harvest and management decisions.

- Hatchery reductions: Bryce Glasser (Fish Program) explained that federal funding constraints (including Mitchell Act funding limits), ESA-related permit conditions and production limits, and the objective of recovering natural-origin fish affect decisions on hatchery funding and production; staff identified two hatcheries proposed for reduction and said other closures in past years were driven by combined funding and compliance issues.

- Hoof disease in elk (‘‘hoof rot’’): Dr. Jonker said Washington State University (WSU) leads the research on the disease, WDFW has implemented an incentive program for hunters to help remove affected animals, and that the agency cannot eliminate the disease once it is on the landscape. She said the research is ongoing, the incentive program is in its third year, and WDFW is monitoring impacts to female survival and herd productivity; the agency cited recent research results due to be released in summer that examine hoof disease impacts on elk productivity.

- Predator and cougar/bear trends: Commissioners said they are seeing more cougars and daytime bear activity and asked about regulation changes. WDFW described a rotating black-bear density study and said cougar models are being updated to include a broader set of mortality sources (including depredation) and age/sex structure; WDFW said commission-level rule changes are under consideration after review of new data.

Local monitoring and next steps

Commissioners asked whether WDFW does water-quality sampling and core samples for lakes such as Silver Lake; Dave Howe (Habitat Program) said water-quality and public-health sampling typically falls to Department of Ecology and Department of Health but that WDFW participates on work groups and can provide technical perspective.

Salee and program managers offered to return for a focused follow-up presentation on any of the topics commissioners want to explore in more depth.

Ending: WDFW staff provided contact points for follow-up and said they will coordinate return briefings on specific topics commissioners request.