"The Coalition respectfully urges the Capital Budget Committee to expand on the governor's budget and fund the WWRP at $150,000,000," Yvonne Krause, the new executive director of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, told the committee during remote testimony.

Conservation and recreation witnesses emphasized demand for outdoor access and conservation funding. Caroline Villanova of the Madison Greenway Trust described WWRP as the state's largest grant program for trails and habitat, asking for funding that would meet more of current grant requests. Multiple witnesses urged full funding for RCO's community forest program at $28,200,000 to conserve working forestlands, protect habitat and support tourism economies.

Floodplains by Design supporters asked for an $87,600,000 appropriation to fund a ranked list of multi‑benefit projects. Daniel Holt and Alyssa Ostergaard said projects listed by Ecology and regional partners are ready to accelerate salmon habitat restoration, reduce flood risk and improve public access.

Ports and industrial stakeholders raised separate concerns about stormwater. John Wolf of the Northwest Seaport Alliance said a recently adopted industrial stormwater permit could require more than $100,000,000 in investments at the seaport alone. Lily Wilson Codega, representing marine union and port interests, asked legislators to support the governor's stormwater assistance program request (roughly $348,000,000 in the governor's budget) to finance necessary stormwater infrastructure and protect maritime operations.

Why it matters: funding decisions will affect conservation wins, salmon habitat restoration, outdoor recreation access and the cost burden for stormwater compliance at ports and industrial sites.

Provenance: testimony from conservation groups, floodplain advocates and port officials during the capital budget hearing.