The Department of Natural Resources was created by the Reorganization Act of 1967 (Chapter 75) which combined the Conservation Dept. and the Department of Resource Development (along with many other councils and committees whose purposes and functions were related to conservation) to form the new department. The department is governed by the seven-member Natural Resource Board. For many years the Board appointed the full-time secretary of the department, but more recently the secretary has been a gubernatorial appointee.
The department is responsible for traditional conservation activities as well as environmental protection. It enforces the laws of the state and, where applicable, the laws of the federal government that serve to protect and enhance the natural resources of Wisconsin--its air, land, water, wildlife, fish, and forests.
See the Agency History in the catalog.
