What happened to the Triploid trout stock

[DirtyD]

The response I got from WDFW,
       WDFW went into the 2017 legislative session with an identified shortfall of $27 million to provide the same services and products that we had in the previous biennium.  At that time, we requested an increase in license fees to offset the increased cost of living and inflation, as the agency had not had a license fee increase since 2011.   The legislature did not approve a fee increase due in part to a lack of support by hunters and anglers.  They did provide a one-time budget increase of $10 million.  That left WDFW with a hole of $17 million to fill.  The agency was able to cover some of that with one time fund shifts and reductions in staff, but we were unable to cover it all.  Therefore a number of services and products were cut to make up the difference.  The triploid trout program was one of those cuts, as was a reduction in our lake rehabilitation program.  As we move forward into the next biennium (beginning July of 2019), we will be facing a shortfall in excess of $30 million.  If the legislature does not provide additional funds to the agency, the triploid program, along with many other services and programs will be in jeopardy.  I’m sure it isn’t a message you want to hear, but it is the harsh reality of our current budget situation.  As we are currently working in the 2019 legislative session, we could use support for increased funding to WDFW from anglers (and hunters) like yourself.  I hope you will let your legislators know how important this resource is to you and that the agency needs to be funded at a level that allows it to continue to provide services and products.

 

WDFW is still raising over 16 million trout annually to support robust fisheries throughout the state, and the opening day of trout season is still the single busiest fishing day of the year.  The annual freshwater fishing license at $30 continues to be a tremendous value to anglers.

 

I wish you the best of luck fishing this season, and hopefully we will have enough funding to purchase triploid trout for 2020.

 

I hope this answers your question, although I realize I haven’t offered the solution you had hoped to hear.

[WSU]

Simple. They cut things that people like in hopes of forcing fee increases.

[duckmen1]

Sounds about right. Waste money on stuff that will hurt us more and take money away from programs that are doing good.

[lewy]

Maybe more money should be held back from going into the general fund

[KFhunter]

Simple. They cut things that people like in hopes of forcing fee increases.

 

[WSU]

That is a fact. We have multiple years of budget requests that prove it.

[KFhunter]

That is a fact. We have multiple years of budget requests that prove it.

Ya, and knowing that then reading the response to Dirty D really drives that home.

"WDFW went into the 2017 legislative session with an identified shortfall of $27 million to provide the same services and products that we had in the previous biennium.  At that time, we requested an increase in license fees to offset the increased cost of living and inflation, as the agency had not had a license fee increase since 2011.   The legislature did not approve a fee increase due in part to a lack of support by hunters and anglers.  They did provide a one-time budget increase of $10 million.  That left WDFW with a hole of $17 million to fill.  The agency was able to cover some of that with one time fund shifts and reductions in staff, but we were unable to cover it all.  Therefore a number of services and products were cut to make up the difference.  The triploid trout program was one of those cuts, as was a reduction in our lake rehabilitation program. As we move forward into the next biennium (beginning July of 2019), we will be facing a shortfall in excess of $30 million. If the legislature does not provide additional funds to the agency, the triploid program, along with many other services and programs will be in jeopardy.  I’m sure it isn’t a message you want to hear, but it is the harsh reality of our current budget situation.  As we are currently working in the 2019 legislative session, we could use support for increased funding to WDFW from anglers (and hunters) like yourself.  I hope you will let your legislators know how important this resource is to you and that the agency needs to be funded at a level that allows it to continue to provide services and products."

IE: You already lost some things you like, but if you don't help us get that 30 million more dollars we want then you'll loose a lot more things you like!
So yell and scream at your senator/s to get us more money and perhaps we'll see about getting you those fish back.

[HUNTIN4SIX]

Specifically what triploid trout program did they cut??  What Region?  Never heard of this. 

[Stein]

It's expensive to destroy all the waterfowl habitat, they can't have enough money for all the great ideas after all.  Fortunately there was money for the wonderful YouTube video on global warming battling salamanders.

[duckmen1]

Specifically what triploid trout program did they cut??  What Region?  Never heard of this. 

Statewide. Not a single triploid is listed to be stocked in any region of washington this year according to the 2019 stocking plan report.

[buckcanyonlodge]

Good Bye Lake Roosevelt trout fishing. Now , how much do they pay the wolf expert??

[Skyvalhunter]

We do stock some triploids most of which are in the NCNP as they do not want reproducing fish there anymore.

[plugger]

And in the mean time they allow ridiculously large limits meant to wipe out populations on fish (walleye, bass catfish) that spawn naturally that don't need a dime of money. 

[boneaddict]

Money seemed to show up to pay for Inslees campaign.  Where in the budget did that come from.  Something like 4 million extra just in security

[Stein]

Money seemed to show up to pay for Inslees campaign.  Where in the budget did that come from.  Something like 4 million extra just in security

It's only 16 officers and it's not like they are needed on the streets.   

It is constitutionally mandated and with total control in the legislature there will be zero pressure to do the right thing.

I've said it many times, until WDFW license revenue drops off a cliff there will be no changes and it will just get worse.