Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 561 - Natural Resources Department › Chapter 1 - Description of Organization › Rule 561-1.3 - Organization

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1)
Director and deputy director.
The director is the chief
			 administrative officer of the department. The director shall appoint a deputy
			 director, who shall be in charge of the department in the absence of the
			 director. The deputy director also may carry out other duties as assigned by
			 the director. The director has rule-making authority for the general operation
			 of the department, and the rules relating to this subject are found under
			 agency number 561 of the Iowa Administrative Code.
(2)
Natural resource
			 commission.
The natural resource commission, created by Iowa Code
			 section
			 455A.5,
			 consists of seven members appointed by the governor. The natural resource
			 commission is responsible to establish policy and adopt rules for the programs
			 specified in Iowa Code section
			 455A.5(6)
			 "a"; hear appeals in contested cases for the programs specified in Iowa Code
			 section
			 455A.5(6)
"b ";
approve or disapprove proposals submitted by the
			 director for the acquisition or disposal of state lands and waters relating to
			 state parks, recreational facilities, and wildlife programs; approve the budget
			 request prepared by the director for the programs specified in Iowa Code
			 section
			 455A.5(6)
"d";
adopt, by rule, a schedule of fees for permits and for
			 the administration of permits; and approve or disapprove proposals involving
			 lake dredging or renovation, and the acquisition, development, and maintenance
			 of boating facilities and recreational facilities associated with recreational
			 boating. The substantive rules of the natural resource commission are found
			 under agency number 571 of the Iowa Administrative Code.
(3)
Environmental protection
			 commission.
The environmental protection commission, created by Iowa
			 Code section 45 5 A. 6, consists of nine members appointed by the governor. The
			 environmental protection commission is responsible to establish policy and
			 adopt rules for the programs specified in Iowa Code section
			 455A.6(6)
			 "a"; hear appeals in contested cases for the programs specified in Iowa Code
			 section 455 A.6(6)
"b ";
approve or disapprove the issuance of
			 hazardous waste disposal site licenses under Iowa Code chapter 455B; and
			 approve the budget request prepared by the director for the programs specified
			 in Iowa Code section
			 455A.6(6)
"d."
The substantive rules of the environmental protection
			 commission are found under agency number 567 of the Iowa Administrative
			 Code.
(4)
State advisory
			 board for preserves.
The state advisory board for preserves, created
			 by Iowa Code section
			 465C.2, consists
			 of seven members, six of whom are appointed by the governor. The director shall
			 serve as a member of the board. The state advisory board for preserves approves
			 land or water areas for dedication as preserves, makes rules, and performs
			 advisory functions related to the establishment and maintenance of preserves.
			 The substantive rules of the state advisory board for preserves are found under
			 agency number 575 of the Iowa Administrative Code.
(5)
Divisions and bureaus.
Pursuant to Iowa Code section 45 5A. 7, the director may establish
			 administrative divisions, bureaus, or other administrative entities to most
			 effectively and efficiently carry out the department's responsibilities.
a.
Conservation and recreation
			 division.
The director has established the conservation and recreation
			 division, which includes the state forester, implements the resource
			 enhancement and protection program and consists of the following bureaus:
(1) Fisheries bureau. The fisheries bureau is
			 responsible for managing fish, turtle, and aquatic organism populations in
			 public waters; providing technical advice and assistance regarding diseases and
			 aquatic invasive species avoidance and mitigation in both public and private
			 waters; collecting creel statistics; fish hatching and stocking; conducting
			 research studies for the purpose of setting fishing seasons and for scientific
			 knowledge; providing fishing information to the general public and conducting
			 other outreach education programs; and developing fishing areas and angler
			 accesses.
(2) Land and waters
			 bureau. The land and waters bureau is responsible for engineering and realty
			 services for the department's facility and public lands and waters projects.
			 Services include professional engineering and architectural design, surveying,
			 construction contract administration, consultant contract management, property
			 appraisal, land acquisition negotiation and closing, conservation easement
			 administration, land management leases and agreements, environmental review,
			 sovereign land construction permits, and threatened and endangered species
			 oversight. The bureau also oversees the department's river programs, which
			 include water trail development and low-head dam mitigation projects.
(3) Law enforcement bureau. The law
			 enforcement bureau is responsible for enforcing Iowa's natural resource
			 conservation and outdoor recreation laws. Other activities include assisting in
			 wildlife and fisheries scientific surveys; providing hunter, boating, and
			 all-terrain vehicle/snowmobile safety training and other outreach education
			 programs; and supervising Iowa's private shooting preserves.
(4) Parks bureau. The parks bureau manages
			 Iowa's state parks, recreation areas, and state forests. The bureau operates
			 and maintains park, recreation area, and state forest infrastructure and
			 facilities, such as multiuse trails, beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas,
			 lodges, shelters, and cabins; protects and manages the natural resources inside
			 such areas, including wildlife, wildlife habitat, and woodlands and timber
			 stands; monitors concession operators; provides naturalist activities and other
			 outreach education programs; and enforces Iowa's natural resource conservation
			 and outdoor recreation laws.
(5)
			 Wildlife bureau. The wildlife bureau is responsible for managing Iowa's
			 wildlife held in trust for the public; maintaining and enhancing wildlife
			 habitat on public lands and waters; advising the public on wildlife habitat
			 development and improvement on private lands, including the development and
			 protection of woodlands and timber stands on private lands; and conducting
			 research for the purpose of setting hunting and trapping seasons and to ensure
			 biological balance of all of Iowa's wildlife.