Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Encyclopedia
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state
of Indiana
charged with maintaining natural areas such as state park
s, state forest
s, recreation areas, etc. According to the department's website, their mission is "to protect, enhance, preserve, and wisely use natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana's citizens through professional leadership, management, and education."
and signed into law by Governor Roger Branigin
in 1965.
Four agencies were placed under the department's umbrella:
In 1967, the Nature Preserves Act established the Division of Nature Preserves, also under the same departmental oversight. Since then, the department has been involved in numerous initiatives and legislative efforts, including the establishment of new state parks, new flood laws, hunter safety programs, forestry education and the general rejuvenation of Indiana's forestland. Today, the Department of Natural Resources claims that Indiana has 4.5 million acres (18,000 km²) of forestland, still far from the area's original 23 million acres (93,000 km²), but an improvement from the two million acres (8,000 km²) that remained intact by 1900.
Beneath the director, there are four deputy directors, each of whom is responsible for a team under which many of the department's divisions are organized. Those teams and their divisions are as follows:
In addition, there are six departments that don't fall under one of the four teams:
The agency's official magazine is Outdoor Indiana. It is published six times a year. The last issue of the year includes a calendar of photography from around the state. There are about 10,000 subscribers to the magazine. The majority of articles and photos are produced by DNR employees. The magazine was first published in 1934.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
charged with maintaining natural areas such as state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
s, state forest
State forest
A state forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign state.The precise application of the term varies by jurisdiction...
s, recreation areas, etc. According to the department's website, their mission is "to protect, enhance, preserve, and wisely use natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana's citizens through professional leadership, management, and education."
History
The Department of Natural Resources was created as part of the Natural Resources Act, passed by the Indiana General AssemblyIndiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate...
and signed into law by Governor Roger Branigin
Roger D. Branigin
Roger Douglas Branigin was the 42nd Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from January 11, 1965 to January 13, 1969...
in 1965.
Four agencies were placed under the department's umbrella:
- Department of Conservation (the forerunner to the Department of Natural Resources)
- Flood Control and Water Resources Commission
- State Soil and Water Conservation Committee
- Outdoor Recreation Council
In 1967, the Nature Preserves Act established the Division of Nature Preserves, also under the same departmental oversight. Since then, the department has been involved in numerous initiatives and legislative efforts, including the establishment of new state parks, new flood laws, hunter safety programs, forestry education and the general rejuvenation of Indiana's forestland. Today, the Department of Natural Resources claims that Indiana has 4.5 million acres (18,000 km²) of forestland, still far from the area's original 23 million acres (93,000 km²), but an improvement from the two million acres (8,000 km²) that remained intact by 1900.
Organization
At the top of the organization is the director (presently Robert E. Carter, Jr.), who reports directly to the Governor of Indiana. In addition to overseeing the department, the director also serves on an autonomous board known as the Natural Resources Commission, consisting of both government officials and citizen members, which meets at least four times annually to address issues pertaining to the department. The director also has an advisory council at his disposal.Beneath the director, there are four deputy directors, each of whom is responsible for a team under which many of the department's divisions are organized. Those teams and their divisions are as follows:
- Regulatory Management Team
- Water
- Reclamation
- Entomology & Plant Pathology
- Historic Preservation & Archaeology
- Oil and Gas
- Land Management Team
- State Parks & Reservoirs
- Natural Preserves
- Land Acquisition
- Fish and Wildlife
- Outdoor Recreation
- Forestry
- Engineering
- Administrative Management Team
- Budget and Performance Management
- Accounting
- Human Resources
- MIS
- Purchasing
- Strategic Management & Organizational Excellence
- Legal Team
- Office of Legal Counsel
In addition, there are six departments that don't fall under one of the four teams:
- Legislative Affairs
- Communications
- Law Enforcement
- State Museum & Historic Sites
- Natural Resources Foundation
- Indiana Heritage Trust
The agency's official magazine is Outdoor Indiana. It is published six times a year. The last issue of the year includes a calendar of photography from around the state. There are about 10,000 subscribers to the magazine. The majority of articles and photos are produced by DNR employees. The magazine was first published in 1934.