This year, the Department celebrates its 25th Anniversary – twenty-five years since the legislature combined the Wildlife and Fisheries departments to bring a unified approach to habitat, fish, and wildlife management. Much has changed in those 25 years, but one thing remains constant. Washington’s residents are benefiting from the work of the people and organizations that lead, stand beside us, and act for fish, wildlife and habitat in Washington.

DENVER (June 18, 2019) – Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) today released the first comprehensive look at the impact of new tariffs on America’s outdoor industry at a tariff town hall event in Denver, Colorado, co-hosted by Tariffs Hurt the Heartland. The data shows that outdoor companies and consumers paid an extra $1.1 billion due to new tariffs in the period from September 2018, when tariffs went into effect, and April 2019, when the most recent government data is available. The tariffs have been placed on outdoor equipment – including backpacks, camp stoves, camp chairs, hats and bikes. The data also found that increases on existing tariffs and additional threatened tariffs will cost the outdoor industry an additional $1.5 billion every month.

Industry.traveloregon.com is your go-to resource for everything from grants to research and marketing opportunities to upcoming events in Oregon’s tourism industry. Thanks to your feedback, it’s now even better. After hearing from the industry last fall, we developed a new site that’s simpler to navigate, offering improved search functionality and a more intuitive layout of pages and content.

The final capital construction budget passed last night includes $85 million in funding for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP), the state’s largest public funding source for outdoor community projects. This funding will allow over 100 high-priority conservation and recreation projects to move forward. In an incredibly difficult budget year, with many competing priorities, we are grateful the Legislature made the WWRP a priority in this budget.

The Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition introduces weekly policy calls to help facilitate communication and information about status of bills impacting outdoor recreation in Washington State.  Join us Fridays at 8:30 a.m. for a quick update about bills. Your questions during the call are welcome!  Facilitated by Doug Levy, Outcomes by Levy. Please join my GoToMeeting from your phone. (646) 749-3122 Access Code: 219-922-893

Who should attend: Elected officials, legislative and agency staff, opinion leaders, community leaders, the business community and the public with interest in outdoor recreation and raising the profile of the substantial economic, social, and health benefits.  Tickets are complimentary if registered by March 8.  Donations appreciated.

Its the kickoff weekend to Washington;s bike season that you won't want to miss.  Learn more

Malcom Dunston’s handshake is a bone-crusher. The strapping 19-year-old works full-time at CSR Marine in Ballard and has climbed the ranks of the boatyard since he was hired the same day he turned 18. “Last year, I started out and I cleaned boats and took out the trash, and now I paint bottoms of boats,” said Dunston. Proudly wearing his CRS white (okay, white with dirt and stray paint) coverall uniform with his name emblazoned on it, Dunston sat down recently to talk about his background, his current position and his long-term plans. “Some of my friends were in jail for murder, and some were in college playing sports. I’m not sure where I was going to go after high school, but the CSR job meant that I have a way to build upon something I love to do, which is to work with my hands and to hopefully make a lot of money doing it,” he said.