Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the state of Michigan founded in 1921, charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor and accepted by the Natural Resources Commission. Since 2023, the Director is Scott Bowen. The DNR has about 1,400 permanent employees, and over 1,600 seasonal employees.
History
In 1887, the Michigan Legislature created the salaried position of state game warden. The position, which was initially created to oversee market hunting and the supply of essential foodstuffs to local lumber camps, was the direct ancestor of the state's conservation infrastructure.In 1921, the Michigan Legislature created the Department of Conservation and a Conservation Commission to manage the state's natural resources. The first director of the department was John Baird.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources was created in 1965 as a part of the constitutionally required reorganization of the executive branch via Executive Organization Act of 1965. Under Governor John Engler, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality was formed from the department's environmental regulation functions, and the appointment of the department's commission chair was transferred to the governor. Several DNR boards and commissions were also abolished with their powers transferred to the department director.
21st century
In 2009, Governor Jennifer Granholm moved to merge Department of Environmental Quality back into the department and appoint the reunited department's director instead of the Natural Resources Commission. The state merged the two agencies to form the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.In 2010, however, Governor elect Rick Snyder named Rodney Stokes as the new DNR director, and chose to divide the DNRE into the original designations of Natural Resource Commission and the DNR divisions. Rodney Stokes said his first priority was to reverse the decline of hunting in Michigan, by eliminating the extended seasons, reducing the amount of antlerless licenses in Northern Michigan, improving habitat and removing license requirements for coyote and wolf.
On January 4, 2011, Governor Rick Snyder issued Executive Order 2011–1, which eliminated the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and created the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality.
Directors
'' * - denotes acting director- * - denotes interim director''
Mission statement
Funding, budget
The DNR is funded by the state general fund revenues, federal funds and a variety of restricted funds. Federal funding consists mainly of special purpose categorical grants from various Federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Restricted funding is generated from licenses, user fees and other charges. These funds support programs for wildlife and fisheries programs, operation of Michigan state parks, harbor development, marine safety enforcement and education, snowmobile and off-road vehicle trail repair and development, and operation of Michigan's 150 state forest campgrounds. Restricted revenues, which by statute can only be used to support related programs, are generated from hunting and fishing license, state park entrance and camping fees, two percent of the gas tax, snowmobile registration and snowmobile trail and ORV permits and forest camping fees.Commissions and boards
Natural Resources Commission
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission is a seven-member public body whose members are appointed by the governor to a term of four years and subject to the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate. The NRC conducts monthly, public meetings in locations throughout Michigan. Citizens are encouraged to become actively involved in these public forums. The NRC establishes general policies for the Department of Natural Resources and hires the department's director. Voter adoption of Proposal G in November 1996, vests exclusive authority in the Natural Resources Commission to regulate the taking of game.Waterways Commission
The Michigan State Waterways Commission is responsible for the acquisition, construction, and maintenance of recreational harbors, channels, docking and launching facilities, and administration of commercial docks in the Straits of Mackinac. Commission members are appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate, to serve three-year terms. Upon expiration of a term, a member may continue to serve until re-appointed or a successor is appointed.Natural Resources Trust Fund Board
The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has been in place since 1976 and provides financial assistance to local governments and the Department of Natural Resources to purchase land or rights in land for public recreation. It also assists in the appropriate development of land for public outdoor recreation.The MNRTF is supported by annual revenues from the development of State-owned mineral resources, largely oil and gas. The program is administered by the MNRTF Board of Trustees and the Grants Management office of the DNR. The MNRTF Board of Trustees meets six times a year and all meetings are open to the public. MNRTF projects provide for natural resource protection and outdoor recreation.
Mackinac Island State Park Commission
The Mackinac Island State Park Commission is an appointed board of the State of Michigan that administers state parklands in the Straits of Mackinac area. It performs public activities under the name Mackinac State Historic Parks. Park units include Mackinac Island State Park including Fort Mackinac and certain properties within the historic downtown of Mackinac Island, Michigan; Colonial Michilimackinac including Fort Michilimackinac and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse; and Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park. It is assigned to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.Divisions
Fisheries
The Fisheries Division works to preserve and enhance Michigan's fish populations, as well as other forms of aquatic life. This is done through monitoring and studying by biologists specialized in the field of fisheries science. The Fisheries Division is organized into four Sections; Administration, Fisheries Management, Research, and Fish Production. The size of the Fisheries Division fluctuates with funding but presently is about 165 full-time employees. The number of employees are spread approximately evenly across the four Sections. The Fish Production Section includes six fish hatcheries located throughout the state with the sole purpose of maintaining or improving fish populations. As many as 20 species of fish are annually reared and stocked. Fisheries Management is principally conducted by biologists from various management units that form Basin Teams. There is one Basin Team for each of the Great Lakes watersheds that Michigan has jurisdiction for. The Basin Teams include representation from the Fish Production and Research Sections as well. The Research Section is organized as five stations, one on each Great Lake and one inland station called the Institute of Fisheries Research located on the campus of the University of Michigan. The Research Section includes fisheries biologists that specialize in stock assessment and conduct surveys of the Great Lakes and develop computer models with the intent of advising the fishery managers and administration. Included are research vessels on each Great Lakes assigned to each of the Research Station except the inland Institute for Fisheries Research. The vessels include the; R/V Steelhead, R/V Char, R/V Tanner, and the R/V Channel Cat. On the Great Lakes, states hold the fishery management authority sometimes shared with some Native American Tribes. The Fisheries Division of the Michigan DNR participates in coordinated management of the Great Lakes fishery resources through the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. The Fisheries Division is funded principally by fishing licenses sales revenue, federal aid in the form of Sport Fish Restoration funds, and some grants. The Fisheries Division occasionally is the recipient of general fund tax dollars for specific capital development needs but does not normally subsist off of state tax dollars.Forest Resources Division (FRD)
The Forest Resources Division administers around 4,000,000 acres of state forest land, managing it for objectives such as timber production, recreation, and wildlife habitat.The FRD maintains statewide aerial photographs in color infra-red and black and white formats, and provides detailed computerized map information for land utilization, management and resource protection. In the field, the division is responsible for the management of all aspects of the state forests, except for State Forest Recreation. The Parks and Recreation Division took over the recreation responsibilities in January 2012. The FR Division manages the use of forests for timber production, new tree growth, and wildlife habitat. The FR Division mainly consists of Foresters who regularly examine trees, plants and soil characteristics to determine the best management practices to keep the forests healthy and Fire Officers which protect both public and private lands from wildfires. The FR division consists of about 270 employees, including foresters, technicians, fire officers and other specialists. Most FR staff works out of DNR field offices, mainly in the Upper Peninsula and Northern/Central Lower Peninsula.