Maryland Department of Natural Resources

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a government agency in the state of Maryland charged with maintaining natural resources such as the 66 state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, wildlife and recreation areas. DNR was established in 1969 as part of a reorganization of the Maryland executive branch initiated by Governor Marvin Mandel. DNR assumed the responsibilities formerly held by the Maryland Board of Natu... More

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a government agency in the state of Maryland charged with maintaining natural resources such as the 66 state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, wildlife and recreation areas. DNR was established in 1969 as part of a reorganization of the Maryland executive branch initiated by Governor Marvin Mandel. DNR assumed the responsibilities formerly held by the Maryland Board of Natural Resources (established in 1941), and consolidated the agency's authority under a single department secretary. The first DNR secretary was former Maryland Governor J. Millard Tawes, who served in that capacity until 1971. Other notable DNR secretaries have included James Coulter (1971–1983) and Torrey C. Brown (1983–1995). The department is headquartered in the Tawes State Office building at 580 Taylor Avenue in Annapolis. The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources is, for all intents and purposes, the head of the DNR. John R....

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