Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is Maryland’s state agency that manages natural resources like state parks, public lands, forests, waterways, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. Its headquarters are in Annapolis at the Tawes State Office Building.

What DNR does
- Oversees land and water resources and wildlife, and runs outdoor recreation programs.
- Does not issue federal environmental permits; those are handled by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

History and leadership
- Officially formed in 1969 to reorganize Maryland’s environmental agencies.
- First secretary was J. Millard Tawes (1969–1971). Current Agency Secretary is Josh Kurtz (appointed January 2023).
- Based in Annapolis, with the Tawes State Office Building as its home.

Organization
- Mission Support: Human Resources, Leadership Development, Fair Practices, Licensing and Registration, Finance and IT.
- Land Resources: Park Service, Forest Service, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Land Acquisition and Planning, Engineering and Construction, Maryland Environmental Trust.
- Maryland Park Service: Manages 66 state parks and offers camping, biking, boating, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor programs; includes park rangers.

Forests and land
- Regulates about 3 million acres of forest in Maryland, with over 160 tree species.
- Forestry is a major local industry, supporting thousands of jobs. Challenges include gypsy moths, bark beetles, and forest fires (thousands of fires each year).

Wildlife and water
- Tracks wildlife populations and diseases (such as Chronic Wasting Disease in deer).
- Monitors and protects waterways from Chesapeake Bay to the Potomac River, aiming to keep water clean and safe for activities like canoeing and fishing.
- Research and monitoring programs study water quality and aquatic life, including streams and biodiversity.

Waterways, fishing, and coastal work
- Oversees commercial and recreational fishing; partners with programs like the Maryland Coastal Bays Program for coastal restoration and conservation.
- Manages more than 300 public boating areas. The Waterway Improvement Fund supports boating programs and is funded by a 5% vessel tax on licensed watercraft.

Natural Resources Police
- The department’s law enforcement arm enforces conservation and boating laws, and provides homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, and education.