Oregon. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) was originally established as the Oregon State Fish Commission in 1878. Initially, its duty was to enforce fishing regulations and the 1848 Territorial Constitution to ensure the conservation of salmon runs. Under the direction of Hollister McGuire in 1893, the agency's duties were expanded to include protection of wildlife from exploitative hunting. Since then, the ODFW has enforced protective regulations for the conservation of Oregon's fish and wildlife.

The history of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department can be divided into three distinct periods: the early years, 1878-1921, were a time of organization and many changes; the middle years, 1921-1975, were a period of stability and few changes; and the modern years, 1975-present, represent the reunification of the Commissions and the creation of the Department.

The earliest state office engaged in the regulation and protection of fish, game, and forests was that of the Fish Commissioner, established in 1878 for the Columbia River. He was replaced by a Fish Commission of three persons established for the regulation of the commercial fish industry in 1887. In 1893, the interests of game and game fish were recognized when the Fish Commission was replaced with the fish and Game Protector. Besides enforcing the game laws, this official was also responsible for the laws regulating the commercial fish industry.

Several changes were instituted in the field of conservation in 1898 and 1899. In 1898 the Legislature established the Board of Fish Commissioners consisting of the Governor, the Secretary of State, and the Fish Commissioner. The latter was the executive officer appointed by the Governor. However, this agency was replaced in 1901 by a Fish Commission composed of the Governor, the Secretary of State, and the State Treasurer. The Commission appointed a Master Fish Warden as administrator and confined itself to the regulation of commercial fishing.

In 1899, the office of the State Biologist was established to investigate the animal resources of the state. This office was abolished in 1915. In 1899, the office of Game and Fish Protector was abolished and the new office of Game and Forestry warden was created. Besides regulating game and game fish, it was the first state agency to administer the forestry laws. In 1901, two agencies existed, the Fish Commission for the commercial fishing industry, and the State Game and Forestry warden for game, game fish, and forestry. This arrangement remained unchanged for ten years.

The regulation of fish and game activities was placed in a single agency, The Board of Fish and game Commissioners, in 1911. This board was authorized to appoint a Master Fish Warden and a State Game Warden. In this same year the Legislative Assembly created the State Board of Forestry consisting of the governor, the acting head of the Forest School of the Oregon State Agricultural college, and five appointees. This act separated the function of forestry from those of fish and game.

The Board of Fish and Game Commissioners was reorganized in 1915 to consist of four appointees and the Governor. In 1920, it was further enlarged to nine members, with eight selected by the Legislative Assembly and the ninth selected by the appointed eight. Part of the Board was designated a Fish Commission and part a Game Commission. It was abolished during the next Legislative Session (1921).

During 1921-1975, the functions of the Fish and Game Commission were administrated by two separate agencies. The administration of the commercial fishing laws was placed under the State Fish Commission, which was authorized to appoint a Master Fish Warden. The Game Commission was created for the administration of game and game fish laws and to appoint a State Game Warden.

FISH COMMOSSION: The Fish Commission's duties, as described in 1921, were to: "Provide for the better protection, preservation and propagation of salmon, shad, sturgeon, and other anadromous and food and shell fishes and generally to see that all laws relating to the commercial fisheries of the state are enforced; to provide license schedules and fees and methods of collection; to fix open and closed seasons for commercial fishing on certain streams; to creat a department of hatcheries and fish culture."

In 1975, the last year of the Commission's existence, Oregon Revised Statutes 506.036(2) describes the jurisdiction of the Fish Commission as: "The duty for the preservation and protection, development and cultivation, promotion and propagation of all fishes under it's jurisdiction within this state is delegated to and imposed upon the Commission."

The Commission remained virtually unchanged for over fifty years. The Fish Commission had three commissioners appointed by the Governor. they served staggered four-year terms and could be removed by the Governor. The Commissioners selected one of their members as chairman. The Commission appointed a Master Fish Warden who served at their will. In 1951, his title was changed to State Fisheries Director.

GAME COMMISSIOM: The Commission was established to formulate the general policies and programs of the state respecting the management of wildlife and game fish and wildlife oriented recreation; establish seasons, bag limits, and methods of taking wildlife and game fish; and operate facilities such as fish hatcheries, game farms, public shooting grounds, game management areas, and public access sites.

The Game Warden's title was changed to State Game Supervisor in 1931 and again in 1949 to Game Director. with each change in title came an increase in administrative powers. In 1973, The Legislative Assembly changed the name of the Commission to the Wildlife Commission. This change, effective in 1974, showed the growing concern for managing all the state's wildlife and not just the game species.

In a report presented before the 1975 Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee the current wildlife management statutes and wildlife management goals were described: "It is the policy of the State of Oregon that wildlife shall be managed to provide optimum recreational and asthetic benefits for present and future generations of citizens of this state. In furtherance of this policy, the goals of wildlife management are: (1) To maintain all species of wildlife at optimum levels and prevent the serious depletion of any indigenous species. (2) To develope and manage the lands and waters of this state in a manner that will enhance the production and public enjoyment of wildlife. (3) To permit an orderly and equitable utilization of available wildlife. (4) To develop and maintain public access to the lands and waters of the state and the wildlife resources thereon. (5) To regulate wildlife populations and the public enjoyment of wildlife in a manner that is compatible with primary uses of the lands and waters of the state and provides optimum public recreational benefits.

the Commission reeceived no revenues from the state General Fund. The Commission operated on funds appropriated by the Legislative Assembly from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and tags, excise taxes on sporting equipment, and federal funds.

The Commission gave up most of its police powers when the Department of State Police was organized in 1931. In the 1973-1975 biennium, the Commission transferred over 3.5 million dollars to the Oregon State Police for enforcement of hunting, fishing and recreational laws and regulations.

In 1974, the Commission was made up of five Commissioners appointed by the Governor. Two Commissioners appointed by the Governor. Two Commissioners were selected from areas east of the Cascades, two from west of the Cascades, and one from the state at large. The Commission selected one of its members as chairman. A Commissioner could be removed by the governor for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office. The Commissioners appointed a director of the Wildlife Commission.

DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (1975-present) - In 1975, the Oregon Legislative Assembly merged the separate state, fish and wildlife commissions and created the Department of Fish and wildlife. The director of the Department is appointed by a seven member Commission, a policy making body appointed by the Governor. A 1986 re-organization of the agency led to the appointment of a second deputy director. One deputy was appointed to oversee operations while the other was responsible for policy and programs. During this re-organization, the former Environmental Management Section was elevated to division status and re-named the Habitat Conservation and Planning Division.

today the Department is responsible for all resident wildlife species in the state, nearly seventy species of fish found in Oregon's inland waters, and approximately ten groups of marine fish found off the Oregon Coast including a variety of shellfish such as clams and crabs. The Department also gives special consideration to species whose existence is considered to be threatened. Department activities include the protection of resources for the future as well as providing for recreational and commercial harvesting of these resources. These activities include fish inventories, habitat protection and improvement, artificial propogation, reserach, damage control, access developments, introductions and transplants, and public relations.

The Deaprtment of fish and wildlife is also responsible for overseeing approximately 250,000 acres of land owned, leased or controlled by the state for wildlife protection, public hunting, or other recreational activities related to wildlife. these areas include eighty fish management areas, mostly fishing reservoirs, that are managed primarily to benefit anglers.

Specific hunting seasons are used to provide population control and and biologists use or recommend other means of minimizing damage. Various repellents are used when conditions are suitable. Hazing with explosives and other scare devices may also provide temporary relief. Where these methods fail, the Department may cooperate with landowners in the erection of deer or elk-proff fences on a share cost basis. Wood panels are also provided to protect haystacks.

Enough breeding stock must be retained to assure fish and wildlife for the future. In addition, surpluses must be spread among sportsmen and commercial users so that each has an opportunity to participate in the harvest. this is the purpose of laws and regulations and why they must be enforced. Annual surplus production of fish and wildlife must be shared by an ever increasing number of people. Regulations are set on an annual basis. Fishing rules for the coming year are adopted each November. big game seasons are set in May and those for small game and waterfowl in August. Setting regulations for game animals must necessarily be held off until the year's population trend, breeding numbers, and annual reproduction counts are completed. In addition, seasons for migratiory birds like waterfowl must conform to federal regulations and guidelines as established by international treaty.

Both written and verbal public testimony is received and considered along with census information provided by Department staff biologists when seasons are set. Synopses of the regulations are distributed to sportsmen by more than 950 outlets which issue licenses for the Department.

The Game Division of the Oregon State Police is primarily responsible for enforcement of Oregon's fish and wildlife regulations. Department field personnel are deputized as wardens and may be used to supplement the efforts of the State police.

It is the Department's purpose to maintain the fish and wildlife resource for the future while allowing an orderly harvest of available surpluses.

Fish and wildlife resources are valuable economic assets for the state. Some species contribute many dollars to the economy when taken by commercial fishermen and trappers. More important, perhaps, is the tremendous economic impact of expenditures by hunters and anglers in pursuit of their hobbies.

The management effort is aimed at prepetuation of all fish and wildlife species in the state. The goal of proper management is to allow for controlled harvest of some species, protection and increase of others, and to insure that all forms will remain in suitable numbers for future generations to enjoy.