Ecological and Water Resources Division

Our vision

Healthy lands and waters throughout Minnesota.

About us

Ecological and Water Resources is one of seven divisions within the Department of Natural Resources. Programs in the division are organized into four sections:

• Ecosystem Management and Protection: Focuses on preserving Minnesota's natural heritage for scientific study and public understanding. Protects and enhances Minnesota’s ecosystems by preventing invasive species, managing Scientific and Natural Areas, preserving native prairies, and conserving wildlife diversity. These efforts support rare plants and animals, protect ecosystem services, expand outdoor recreation and education opportunities, and provide critical biodiversity data to guide responsible natural resource management and economic development while safeguarding valuable natural resources.

  Programs include Invasive Species, Conservation Management and Rare Resources, Native Plant Ecology, Nongame Wildlife, Minnesota Biological Survey, Scientific and Natural Areas, and Wetlands.

• Conservation Assistance and Regulation: Promotes sustainable management of Minnesota’s water resources by monitoring development activities, supporting local oversight of shorelands and floodplains, ensuring dam safety, and reviewing environmental impacts of proposed projects. These efforts help protect natural resources while providing opportunities for public understanding and input on environmental decisions.

  Programs include Dam Safety and Permits, Environmental Review, Land Use and Floodplain Management, Water Regulation.

• Inventory, Monitoring and Analysis: Collects, analyzes, and shares data on Minnesota’s water resources, habitats, watersheds, and flood conditions to support informed decision-making on development and environmental management. These efforts also provide valuable resource information to government agencies, conservation groups, and the public for planning, research, and stewardship purposes.

  Programs include biological surveys, clean water coordination and collaboration, Climatology, Hydrogeology/Groundwater, Lake Ecology, River Ecology, and Water Monitoring and Surveys.

• Strategic Information Services: Supports the Division’s operations through financial management, communications and outreach, strategic planning, continuous improvement, and administrative support. The team helps manage budgets and contracts, coordinate public communications and web content, guide implementation of strategic initiatives, and maintain consistent administrative procedures and operational tools across the Division.

  Areas include Business Operations, Communications and Planning, and Information Technology.

Ecological and Water Resources has more than 400 staff and 38 distinct programs, creating a diverse and skilled professional workforce.

Our mission

To work with citizens to conserve and manage the state’s natural resources, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and to provide for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life.

Our values

Ecological and Water Resources staff are passionate about our state’s rich and vast natural resources. We care about resource conservation, protection and restoration, and integrating human use for recreation and the economy.

We strive to apply the following values in our day-to-day interactions and behavior:

• Integrity: We value professional integrity in the decisions we make, the quality of our work, the science we use, and the public services we offer.

• Respect: We respect the views, values and beliefs of each other, our partners, and the public. We respect our natural resources, the diversity and interconnectedness of those resources, and people’s use of natural resources.

• Dedication: We are dedicated to the DNR’s mission and doing our part to continue the DNR’s legacy. We are dedicated to using sound science to inform our decisions.

• Collaboration: We are collaborative, working with each other, our partners, and the public; committed to listening and being responsive, inclusive, open and transparent.

• Adaptation: We adapt to changing circumstances and priorities, new information and varying points of view, allowing us to continually grow and improve.