Climate Change

Washington’s climate is changing, and is projected to continue changing throughout the 21st century. Increasing air temperature, warming streams, reduced snowpack accumulation, declining summer precipitation, increased potential for wildfires, sea level rise, and ocean acidification will continue to affect Washington state’s fish and wildlife resources. Understanding which species, habitats, and ecosystems are expected to be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and why, is a critical first step in building resilience across the state’s fish and wildlife resources.

Marine and near-shore habitat

Rising sea surface temperatures are driving changes in the survival, abundance, and distribution of native fish and marine invertebrates as well as the prevalence of invasive species and disease. Sea level rise will likely contribute to habitat loss and displacement along Washington’s coastline.

Freshwater, wetland, and riparian habitats

Increased temperatures and warming water will reduce habitat quality and connectivity for native species in freshwater, wetland, and riparian habitats. Projected declines in summer precipitation are expected to reduce water availability for wetland-associated species and contribute to population declines.

Forest habitats

Higher temperatures and summer moisture stress can shorten the growing season, decrease tree growth, and make the forest more susceptible to wildfires and forest insects and disease. Precipitation, temperature, and snowpack affect the geographic ranges of trees and understory vegetation. As the climate continues to change, the region may become more or less suitable for certain tree species. Disturbance events like wildfire or insect outbreaks may accelerate shifts in species ranges.

Alpine habitats

As the climate changes, Alpine Habitats will experience reduced snowpack, habitat loss for cold-adapted species, and shifts in high-elevation communities.

Shrubsteppe and grassland habitats

The shrubsteppe and grasslands are an arid ecosystem in eastern Washington and other western states. Climate change coupled with the cheatgrass invasive is driving an increase in the frequency, extent, and severity of wildland fire in Washington’s shrubsteppe. Cheatgrass alters the fire regime by increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Cheatgrass is highly flammable and dries out earlier in the season compared to native vegetation, leading to an extended fire season. More frequent fires further facilitate the spread of cheatgrass, perpetuating the cycle.

Photo caption: The shrubsteppe is an arid ecosystem found in eastern Washington and other western states. As one of Washington's most diverse ecosystems, shrubsteppe provides habitat for species found nowhere else in the state, such as the pygmy rabbits, Greater sage-grouse, sagebrush sparrow, and burrowing owl.

Four aspects of the WDFW mission are most vulnerable to climate change: 

Risks to species conservation and recovery

With dozens of species classified as state-endangered, -threatened, or -sensitive, WDFW is tasked with guiding recovery efforts for many at-risk fish and wildlife species. The historical drivers that led to species becoming at-risk were often not climate-related, but rather reflected the legacy of present-day human activities and land use (e.g., native habitat conversion, overharvest, pollution, habitat fragmentation, etc.). Increasingly, climate change is becoming an additional stressor that is raising the extinction risk for many species. For climate-sensitive species (i.e., species that are adapted to a relatively narrow range of climatic conditions and therefore vulnerable to a changing climate) that are already at-risk, this will make meeting recovery goals even more difficult and costly.

Photo caption: On September 7, 2020, a historic fire event resulted in 80 fires and nearly 300,000 acres burned in a single day; several of these fires were unprecedented in their scale and impact on wildlife. The Cold Springs Canyon/Pearl Hill fire, the largest wildfire in Washington State recorded history, burned over 410,000 acres of shrubsteppe habitats in Douglas and Okanogan Counties, and the Whitney fire impacted an additional 127,400 acres of shrubsteppe habitats in Lincoln County. These fires burned in areas that were critical for endangered and threatened species, including greater sage-grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, likely setting back their recovery for many years to come.

Risks to harvest and recreation opportunities

WDFW provides access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife-related recreation throughout the state. These activities occur primarily across the one million acres of WDFW-managed lands and waters throughout the state. Wildfire and smoke, warming streams, snowpack declines and altered hydrology, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and resulting shifts in the distribution of species and the habitats that support them are likely to impact WDFW’s ability to provide harvest and recreation opportunities to Washingtonians.

Photo caption: The Carlton Complex Fire burning on the Methow Wildlife Area. Wildfires like these pose a risk for harvest and recreation opportunities through closures and habitat or species shifts.

Risks to WDFW’s lands and infrastructure

Climate change not only poses risks to WDFW operations, but also to the more than one million acres of WDFW-managed lands and supporting infrastructure (e.g., hatcheries, wildlife areas, water access areas, buildings, trails, etc.) the agency relies on to achieve its mission. Projected increases in flood risk, wildfire risk, sea level rise, expanding populations of invasive species and pathogens, and shifting vegetation and disturbance regimes have the potential to cause closures and diminish the value of WDFW-owned lands and put agency infrastructure at risk.

Managing and preparing for climate risks will require new policies, plans, and management procedures. In the Preparing Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for a Changing Climate: Assessing Risks and Opportunities for Action Report (PDF), WDFW and the UW Climate Impacts Group identified the following five opportunities for action: Policy Regulations, Guidance & Management Plans; Research, Monitoring Tools, and Data Management; Capacity Building, Staff Training, & Coordination; Outreach & Communications; Partnership & Collaboration.

Here are current initiatives and actions WDFW is taking to respond to climate change: 

Habitat connectivity

The Washington Connectivity Habitat Action Plan is being led by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in close collaboration with the Washington State Department of Transportation for the purpose of statewide prioritization of landscape connectivity and road crossing projects. Increasing landscape connectivity is the most commonly recommended adaptation strategy for biodiversity management in the face of climate change.

• WDFW habitat connectivity webpage
• Video: "Wild Ways: Why keeping Washington's habitat connected matters"
• Blog: "Why did the deer cross the road? Wildlife habitat connectivity in Washington"

Adaptive management planning for instream water

In August 2022, WDFW published a report outlining the technical information policymakers need to prepare for projected losses of instream water. The report included a list of proactive actions to ensure adequate water for fish and wildlife given the changing climate. Climate change coupled with land use change is projected to increase demand for water and threaten Washington waterways and the species they support.

• The Future of Instream Water in Washington State: A Brief for Policy Makers | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Stream flow projects for climate-smart culverts

Incorporating climate change into the design of water crossing structures

The size of water-crossing structures like culverts and bridges is based on stream width. Climate change is projected to lead to conditions that will increase stream width. Between 2014 and 2016, WDFW conducted a study to explore climate-related changes to streams. The resulting report outlined recommendations for designing water crossing structures to accommodate projected changes to streamflow.

• Designing climate-change-resilient culverts | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Climate change vulnerability assessment for hatchery facilities

Between winter and spring of 2023 WDFW contracted with McMillen and Northwest Hydraulic Consultants (NHC) to complete a climate change vulnerability assessment of four of WDFW’s hatcheries (Marblemount, Kendall Creek, Samish, and Goldendale). Climate and hydrologic modeling were performed by NHC, and these results have been incorporated into the analysis for each facility. Climate change is projected to lead to conditions that will stress fish and results in higher prevalence of diseases. WDFW is exploring the potential for water treatment, reuse, and increased rearing capacity to ensure production goals can be met the face of a changing climate.

Updating spatial stream network models of August stream temperature for the Washington Coast Salmon Recovery Region

In 2023, WDFW completed a project to develop an updated model for mean August stream temperature for rivers of the Washington Coast Salmon Recovery Region. The results are available in a geospatial resource and highlight areas where uncertainty in stream temperature projections is high.

Conservation opportunities for the public

Habitat at Home

The Habitat at Home program encourages Washingtonians to connect with nature while also increasing biodiversity through planting native plants, coexisting with wildlife, and making decisions that positively impact health of our communities. The program creates new conservation opportunities for the general public and increases public awareness of projected climate change impacts on biodiversity. 

Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account Volunteer Cooperative Grant Program (ALEA)

The ALEA Grant Program provides funding to organizations and individuals for projects that engage volunteer support and promote fish and wildlife enhancements. 

Statewide planning

WDFW is supporting Ecology’s efforts to update the state’s Climate Change Response Strategy as a participating agency. Learn more about the Climate Change Resilience Strategy and current efforts on Ecology’s website.