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Oregon Director of Fish and Wildlife
| Oregon Director of Fish and Wildlife | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $222,804 |
| 2023-25 FY Budget: | $555,568,944 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Oregon statutes, Chapter 496, Section 080 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the State Fish and Wildlife Commission |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Oregon Director of Fish and Wildlife
Debbie Colbert | |
| Other Oregon Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Oregon Director of Fish and Wildlife is an appointed state executive position in the Oregon state government.
The director serves as head of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, whose mission is "to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations."[1]
Current officeholder
The current Oregon Director of Fish and Wildlife is Debbie Colbert (nonpartisan). Colbert assumed office in 2024.
Authority
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is established in Chapter 496 of the Oregon statutes.
Chapter 496, Section 080:
| There is hereby established in the executive branch of the government of this state under the State Fish and Wildlife Commission a department to be known as the State Department of Fish and Wildlife. The department shall consist of the director of the department and all personnel employed in the department.[2] |
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Oregon Director of Fish and Wildlife has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Appointments
The director is appointed by the seven-member Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to a term not to exceed four years.[2]
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Oregon Director of Fish and Wildlife has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Duties
The director serves as the administrative head of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The duties of the department include:
- Monitor fish and wildlife populations to set sustainable hunting, fishing and clamming seasons
- Stock millions of trout in Oregon’s lakes and waterbodies
- Enhance fisheries and increase fishing opportunities
- Restore threatened and endangered species like wolves and sage-grouse
- Conserve at-risk wildlife and their habitats
- Help fish pass through dams and other obstacles
- Mitigate impacts to fish and wildlife during energy, water and travel projects
- Manage 20 wildlife areas to provide wildlife habitat and hunting, fishing, viewing opportunities
- Help private landowners reduce wildlife damage and improve wildlife habitat
- Open millions of acres of private land to hunting
- Provide weekly updates on fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities
- Certify 8,000 new hunters in hunter safety education every year
- Teach families to fish, clam and hunt in outdoor skills workshops
- Research best practices for managing the differences between wild and hatchery fish[3]
Divisions
The department is organized into two main divisions:
- Fish
- Wildlife
State budget
- See also: Oregon state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Fish and Wildlife for the 2023-25 biennium was $555,568,944.[4]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $222,804, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2016
In 2016, the director received a salary of $148,572, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2015
In 2015, the director received a salary of $145,308, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2014
In 2014, the director received a salary of $142,464, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2013
In 2013, the director was paid an estimated $136,320. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[9]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Oregon Director of Fish and Wildlife has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Contact information
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
3406 Cherry Avenue NE
Salem, OR 97303
Phone: (503) 947-6000
Toll free: (800) 720-ODFW
TTY: (503) 947-6339
Email: General Information
See also
| Oregon | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, " About us," accessed December 22, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Oregon Statutes, "Chapter 496.112: State Fish Wildlife Director; term; compensation and expenses; delegation of commission powers to director," accessed October 29, 2015
- ↑ Dfw.state.OR.us, "ODFW - About the agency," accessed October 6, 2011
- ↑ Oregon Legislature, "2023-25 Budget Highlights Update," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
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