Michigan State Report - MAFWA



MICHIGANSTATE REPORTJune 1, 2018Keith Creagh, DirectorMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesP.O. Box 30028Lansing, Michigan 48909STAFFINGThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has 1,470 permanent employees, more than 1,600 non-career/seasonal employees and a $410.2 million budget that supports programs for wildlife and fisheries management, state parks and recreation areas, trails, boating programs, conservation and law enforcement, forest management, state lands and minerals, the historical museum and archives.Keith Creagh is the Director of the department. Bill O’Neill is now serving as the Natural Resources Deputy as Dr. William Moritz relinquished that position but remains a part-time employee with the department. FISCAL YEAR 2017-2018 BUDGETThe DNR budget is $408,967,300 for fiscal year (FY) 2018. The General Fund increased by forty-three percent from $39,910,000 in 2017 to $56,944,900 in?2018. The DNR is funded by state General Fund revenues, federal funds, and a variety of restricted funds. The budget consists of 14 percent General Funds, 19 percent federal funds and 67?percent restricted funds. Federal funding consists mainly of special purpose categorical grants from various federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Federal funds support programs for wildlife and fisheries habitat and management, forest management, recreation and other natural resource programs. Restricted funding is generated from sales of licenses, user fees, and other charges. These funds support wildlife and fisheries programs, operation of Michigan’s 102?state parks, harbor and boating access site development, marine safety enforcement and education, snowmobile and offroad vehicle trail repair and development, and operation of Michigan’s 135?state forest campgrounds. The DNR also generates timber sales revenue from state lands. Approximately 90?percent of timber sales revenue goes to the Forest Development Fund and is used for the protection and development of our state forests. The other ten?percent of timber sales goes toward the Game and Fish Protection Trust Fund.The DNR budget grew substantially from 2017 to 2018. State Parks received an infusion of $7 million from the General Fund to continue to address their infrastructure backlog. A challenge grant of $5 million was provided to leverage private funds to continue the work of the Iron Belle Trail which will allow users to start on Belle Isle in Detroit and hike or bike through the state to Ironwood on the Wisconsin border. The rewrite of the Land Ownership Tracking System, which maintains the DNR land and mineral lease records, received an additional $1.9 million in General Fund to fully fund the project. Additional funds of $1 million were received to assist with Chronic Wasting Disease. The DNR will be starting another conservation officer academy on July 15. Approximately $1.8 million was provided to enhance Great Lakes Enforcement and Special Investigations units which specialize in enforcement of commercial fishing regulations and investigations into the commercialization of fish and wildlife respectively. General Fund continues to contribute approximately 26?percent of the $42.4?million law enforcement budget due to the strong enforcement role the officers fulfill in the rural areas of Michigan. The DNR continues to try to influence the impact of Invasive Species Program. In addition to the $5 million in General Fund the DNR receives annually, $200,000 was included to assist with the invasive species work. Invasive species and their impact on natural resources will continue to be a budgetary priority of the DNR.LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITYMany of the same issues, especially public land ownership, public land accessibility, and the dedication of restricted funds for land acquisition and development, continue to be discussed in elected offices and in the media. The DNR continues to work with the Legislature on the adoption of its Managed Public Land Strategy plan and the land cap removal. NOTEWORTHY DIVISION ISSUESChronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Michigan’s deer herd continues to be detected in specific areas of the central lower portion of the state. The DNR held a CWD Symposium bringing together experts from around the nation and world earlier this year to discuss transmission, pathogens, maternal transmission, species susceptibility, role of genetic influences, importance of applied research, surveillance and disease management. The Department has held numerous meetings across the state to present updates to the public and seek input. The Natural Resources Commission and the DNR continue to work together to address this disease. The DNR will continue its monitoring efforts during the 2018 deer season and will encourage hunters to have their deer tested.The State of Michigan and DNR continue to advocate for the construction and operation of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to prevent the spread of invasive carp. The DNR awarded a contract to a firm to conduct a “Carp Tank Contest” in which entrepreneurs submitted ideas to keep the invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes. Prize money was awarded from the $1?million in General Fund that was provided in 2017 for the contest. ................
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