The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will merge the divisions of waters and ecological resources into one area that will focus on water quality. Combining the two areas, the department says, will better protect the state’s lakes and rivers.

The department needs to be more responsive to the changes in climate, population and development, according to Ecological Resources Division Director, Steve Hirsch.

“We’re looking at a pace of change and the challenges it’s producing in the natural resources area is unprecedented for people that are working in the field,” Hirsch said. “We need to make sure our programs are relevant as the change unfolds.”

Voters have approved the legacy amendment, a tax geared toward environmental protection. New homes or businesses near lakes will affect water quality, so the new division will oversee both areas. They will manage the watershed, not just individual lakes and streams.

Hirsch said that a focus of the new division will be working with partners to provide information to influence better land and water use decisions. He indicated that the scientific information collected in the department will be shared with county commissioners or developers for use in decisions affecting state waters.

Some officials are concerned because a watershed does not cover only one county. It will mean a new way of working with other counties and the state DNR division. County officials may lose some of their autonomy, if all counties in a watershed are required to adopt the same land use regulations.

Crow Wing County Commissioner Paul Theide said he agrees that protecting water quality requires education and cooperation, not just regulation. Environmental groups are also withholding comments until they see what restructuring brings.

Henry Van Offelen, a natural resource scientist for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said if the merger of two division is done right, the result will be better management and better oversight of Minnesota waters.

But Van Offelen said the DNR has not adequately enforced regulations to protect lakes and streams. He said if the new division continues the trend, it will be a failure.

Van Offelen says he will judge the DNR on the quality of Minnesota lakes and streams five or 10 years from now.

Hirsch said it will take at least a year for the new division to get refocused.

– From a Minnesota Public Radio story by Dan Gunderson

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will merge the divisions of waters and ecological resources into one area that will focus on water quality. Combining the two areas, the department says, will better protect the state’s lakes and rivers.

The department needs to be more responsive to the changes in climate, population and development, according to Ecological Resources Division Director, Steve Hirsch.

“We’re looking at a pace of change and the challenges it’s producing in the natural resources area is unprecedented for people that are working in the field,” Hirsch said. “We need to make sure our programs are relevant as the change unfolds.”

Voters have approved the legacy amendment, a tax geared toward environmental protection. New homes or businesses near lakes will affect water quality, so the new division will oversee both areas. They will manage the watershed, not just individual lakes and streams.

Hirsch said that a focus of the new division will be working with partners to provide information to influence better land and water use decisions. He indicated that the scientific information collected in the department will be shared with county commissioners or developers for use in decisions affecting state waters.

Some officials are concerned because a watershed does not cover only one county. It will mean a new way of working with other counties and the state DNR division. County officials may lose some of their autonomy, if all counties in a watershed are required to adopt the same land use regulations.

Crow Wing County Commissioner Paul Theide said he agrees that protecting water quality requires education and cooperation, not just regulation. Environmental groups are also withholding comments until they see what restructuring brings.

Henry Van Offelen, a natural resource scientist for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said if the merger of two division is done right, the result will be better management and better oversight of Minnesota waters.

But Van Offelen said the DNR has not adequately enforced regulations to protect lakes and streams. He said if the new division continues the trend, it will be a failure.

Van Offelen says he will judge the DNR on the quality of Minnesota lakes and streams five or 10 years from now.

Hirsch said it will take at least a year for the new division to get refocused.

– From a Minnesota Public Radio story by Dan Gunderson