Natural Resources

Enforcement Natural Resource Laws and Rules

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/enforcement/index.html

Statewide Outcomes

The Enforcement Natural Resource Laws and Rules Program supports the following statewide outcomes:

A clean, healthy environment with sustainable uses of natural resources

A thriving economy that encourages business growth and employment opportunities

Strong and stable families and communities

The program is also a contributor to the statewide outcome:

People in Minnesota are safe

Context

The enforcement of natural resources laws and rules is the job of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Enforcement Division. The division operates to ensure public safety and compliance with laws regarding state game and fish, recreational vehicles, non-motorized recreational activities; natural resource commercial operations, and environmental protection. Major responsibilities include law enforcement, public safety, and education in:

·         hunting and fishing seasons, methods of taking wild animals, and possession limits;

·         public safety, including regulating Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) and watercraft operation, alcohol impaired operation, and response to natural disasters;

·         regulating commercial use and exploitation of natural resources and products;

·         protection of the state’s land, air, and water quality; and

·         safety training and hunter education for youth and adults.

The Enforcement Division helps ensure sustainable game and fish populations that make Minnesota a destination state for outdoor recreation. This program supports a multi-million dollar tourism industry linked to hunting, fishing, motorized and non-motorized recreation. It also promotes education of Minnesota’s diverse outdoor recreationalists in safe and ethical practices. Enforcement possesses specialized equipment and workforce skills that are relied on by other law enforcement agencies in natural disaster response.

Funding sources include game and fish fund, general fund, natural resources fund, water recreation fund and small amounts of remediation fund and federal funds (see http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/budget/fy12-13/budget_spent.pdf pages 16-18).

Strategies

The Division of Enforcement manages five core program areas:

·         Environmental Protection: Protection of the environment through enforcement of regulations related to invasive species, the Wetland Conservation Act, protected waters, aquatic plants, wildlife management areas, fire, air quality, timber and solid waste.

·         Fisheries and Game Protection: Protect fisheries stocks, small game, migratory waterfowl, and big game populations through law enforcement and education efforts. Promote safe involvement in the state’s shooting sports through quality education.

·         Recreational Enforcement and Safety Training and Education: Provide safety training and law enforcement services for All-Terrain Vehicle [ATV]), Off-Highway Motorcycle (OHM), Off-Road Vehicle (ORV), and snowmobiles, and for non-motorized activities.

·         Public Safety and Service: Respond to citizens' calls for service and support police and sheriff's law enforcement efforts for activities such as disaster response.

·         Water Recreation: Enhance boat and water safety and public access to waters through enforcement and education, including grants to local law enforcement.

Results

The following performance measures represent a subset of outcomes for the Division of Enforcement. Key factors that drive desired outcomes include:

·         Public Safety Role. The health and welfare of Minnesotans in their time of need is our highest priority. The division measures its success by its ability to respond to requests for service. The division’s emergency response role must be stable and consistent; it cannot be compromised. For example, the efforts of the Division has contributed to a continued fatality rate well below the national average of 6.2/100,000 boat registrations. Minnesota leads the nation in per/capita boat ownership and has been a leader in boating safety outreach and enforcement.

·         Major shifts in traditional sources of conservation funding influence how the division accomplishes its work. Because public safety activities are funded by general fund appropriations, in years where natural disaster response is elevated there are fewer resources available to deliver other critical public services. Enforcement must assure fund integrity of its dedicated funds that cannot be diverted from their intended purposes. This challenges the division’s flexibility; alternative funding models are needed to ensure efficient and consistent delivery of all the Division’s vital conservation services.

·         Invasive Species Enforcement. The spread of aquatic invasive species in the state poses unprecedented challenges to ensuring the persistence and health of Minnesota wide range of fish and wildlife species and habitats and the recreation and economic opportunities they provide. The enforcement division increasingly plays a critical enforcement and education role to address this growing threat to the state’s natural resources.

·         Continuous Improvement and New Service Delivery Models. The effectiveness of law enforcement efforts cannot be gauged simply by tabulating the results of citations and warnings issued. The Division has a three-pronged approach to gaining compliance; information, education, and law enforcement, with enforcement action as the last measure. The Division must keep pace with change and accelerate the use of media to inform and influence citizens to increase voluntary compliance and report violations.

Performance Measures Notes:

1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 – Comparing FY 2011 to FY 2012.

5 - While the measure appears to be worsening, in FY 2011 a major flood increased activity levels above normal. Goals for service are being met and base activity outside of disaster response has remained stable.

DNR is exploring the development of an enforcement data records management system to help track an improved set of enforcement performance measures.

More information: Strategic Conservation Agenda: Performance and Accountability Report (http://www.mndnr.gov/conservation_agenda/performance)