Ohio Department of Natural Resources#Divisions
{{Short description|Government agency of Ohio}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Department of Natural Resources
| type = department
| nativename =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| logo_caption =
| seal =
| seal_width =
| seal_caption =
| image =
| picture_width =
| formed = {{Start date|1949}}
| preceding1 =
| preceding2 =
| dissolved =
| superseding =
| jurisdiction = Ohio
| headquarters = Columbus, Ohio
| motto = To ensure a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all.
| employees =
| budget =
| chief1_name = Mary Mertz
| chief1_position = Director
| parent_department =
| parent_agency =
| child1_agency =
| child2_agency =
| keydocument1 =
| website = {{URL|http://ohiodnr.gov/}}
| footnotes =
}}
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is the Ohio government agency charged with ensuring "a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all."Ohio Rev. Code § 121.01 et seq.{{Cite web|url=http://ohiodnr.gov/home/history-purpose|title=History and Purpose of the Department of Natural Resources|website=ohiodnr.gov|access-date=2019-03-19}}
Functions
ODNR regulates Ohio's oil and gas industry, the mining industry, hunting and fishing, and dams while maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state nature preserves, state wildlife areas, state forests, and state waterways. It was created in 1949 by the Ohio Legislature.{{cite web | title = About ODNR | publisher = State of Ohio | url = http://ohiodnr.gov/home/history-purpose | format = web | access-date = 2020-01-17 }}
ODNR owns and manages more than {{cvt|640000|acre}} of land, including 75 state parks, 23 state forests, 136 state nature preserves, and 150 wildlife areas. The department has jurisdiction over more than {{cvt|61500|mi}} of inland rivers and streams, {{cvt|451|mi}} of the Ohio River, and {{convert|2.29|e6acre|km2}} of Lake Erie.
ODNR is responsible for overseeing and permitting all mineral extraction, monitoring dam safety, managing water resources, and mapping the state's major geologic structures and mineral resources. In addition, ODNR also oversees the registration of all of Ohio's watercraft and issues all of the state's hunting and fishing licenses. ODNR has two main focuses: Regulating the use of Ohio's reserve of natural resources and providing visitors with the recreational opportunities that these resources provide.{{Cite web |title=Ohio Department of Natural Resources {{!}} H2Ohio |url=https://h2.ohio.gov/natural-resources/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |language=en-US}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Wikidata property|P6289}}
- [http://ohiodnr.gov/ Ohio Department of Natural Resources] (Not available outside USA)
- [https://oh-web.s3licensing.com/ ODNR Fishing License Online]
{{Ohio state agencies}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ohio Department Of Natural Resources}}
Category:State environmental protection agencies of the United States