New Member Joins Oregon Fish And Wildlife Commission

Dallas Hall Defrees of Baker City has been named to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for a four-year term that began October 1. Her first meeting on the citizen panel overseeing ODFW policy and which hires and fires its director will be in December.

Defrees was appointed by Governor Tina Kotek, confirmed by state senators in September and will represent the Eastern Region of the state, bringing the commission back to its full strength of seven.

The news appears to have been first reported in the Oregon Hunters Association‘s Tracker newsletter that came out today, and the organization says it has already met with Defrees to introduce itself and its mission and priorities to the new commissioner.

Defrees herself detailed her interest in the commission position during a legislative hearing on gubernatorial appointments on September 24.

“As the fifth generation of my family’s tree farm and cattle ranch, I have a deep invested interest in our state’s working lands, wildlife and natural resources,” Defrees told senators. “In addition to my academic background, I continue to practice and value the ranching way of life, which fostered my commitment to care for the land and the animals, as well as their interdependence.”

Defrees said that working as the director of regenerative ranching – she spoke to the Baker City Herald about the way of land management in an interesting October 2022 article – for Sustainable Northwest helped her to continue to learn about and engage on natural resource issues affecting communities, the state and wildlife habitat.

“In this role (as a Fish and Wildlife Commission member), I look forward to utilizing a science-based approach to examine issues presented to the commission and also hearing from and listening to the individuals who these decisions impact the most. It is often the quietest voice in the room that has the most valuable input, and I look forward to finding and encouraging those voices to inform the decision making of the commission,” Defrees told lawmakers. “I also look forward to coordinating with and learning from (ODFW’s) staff, with the goal of understanding their on-the-ground experiences and challenges facing our natural resources and habitat.”

Defrees’ appointment is the first under the new way commissioners are added to the panel. Previously, they represented Oregon’s five Congressional districts or were one of two additional members from either side of the Cascades. But in 2023 the state legislature by wide bipartisan margins passed House Bill 3086, which reoriented positions to match watersheds, with two members now from Northwest Oregon (the lower Columbia, lower Willamette, Tillamook and Nestucca Basins, among others), two from West Central Oregon (upper Willamette, Siletz, Yaquina, Alsea, Siuslaw and Umpqua Basins), and one member from each of the Southwest (Rogue and Chetco Basins), North Central (Hood, Deschutes, John Day, Umatilla and Walla Walla Basins) and Eastern Oregon (Grande Ronde, Imnaha, Powder, Owyhee and Malheur Basins) regions.

The effect is to “lessen the impact of Portland-centric commission appointments while ensuring greater representation to the eastern portion of the state,” according to OHA. The bill was also cheered at the time by Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has had only six members since former member Jill Zarnowitz of Yamhill left her position in June 2023. Technically, Defrees fills that seat after it was moved from Congressional District 4 to the Eastern Oregon region, per ODFW spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy.

“Delighted to have a full commission,” stated Liz Hamilton, policy director for the Oregon City-based Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, this afternoon. “We look forward to learning more about her priorities and goals for the future of Oregon’s fish and wildlife. Being a rancher with a young family, we are grateful for her willingness to serve.” 

Indeed, Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission member and Douglas County rancher Molly Linville might have some advice on balancing everything!

At that September Oregon legislative meeting, senators also reappointed the commission’s Chair Mary Wahl of Langlois (whose new term runs through May 14, 2027), and Commissioners Bob Spelbrink of Siletz (May 31, 2028), Becky Hatfield-Hyde of Paisley (November 24, 2027) and Mark Labhart of Sisters (June 30, 2027).