Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Encyclopedia
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is an agency of the state
of Wisconsin
. Its purpose is to preserve, protect, manage and maintain the natural resources of the state. The WDNR has the authority to set policy for itself and to recommend regulations for approval by the State Legislature and the Governor
.
The WDNR was created by the State Legislature in 1967. It is led by the DNR secretary; the current secretary is Cathy Stepp
, who was appointed to the post by governor Scott Walker
in 2011. The central office of the WDNR is located in downtown Madison, near the state capitol.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Its purpose is to preserve, protect, manage and maintain the natural resources of the state. The WDNR has the authority to set policy for itself and to recommend regulations for approval by the State Legislature and the Governor
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
.
The WDNR was created by the State Legislature in 1967. It is led by the DNR secretary; the current secretary is Cathy Stepp
Cathy Stepp
Cathy Stepp is a Wisconsin politician and business owner.Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Stepp and her husband own a construction business. From 2003 until 2007, Stepp served as a Republican in the Wisconsin State Senate. In January 2011, Governor Scott Walker appointed Stepp Secretary of the...
, who was appointed to the post by governor Scott Walker
Scott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
in 2011. The central office of the WDNR is located in downtown Madison, near the state capitol.
Green Tier Program
The Green Tier program set up by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides state businesses with the opportunity to bring economics, and the environment together.Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 13 officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation Warden J. B. Carter | |
Automobile accident |
| Conservation Warden Michael Kleist | |
Vehicle pursuit |
| Conservation Warden Alfred P. Vanderkelen | |
Boating accident |
| Conservation Warden Einar Johnson | |
Gunfire |
| Conservation Warden William A. Riebe | |
Struck by streetcar |
| Conservation Warden Edgar L. Alderman | |
Automobile accident |
| Conservation Warden Albert Lee | |
Automobile accident |
| Conservation Warden Albert E. Reif | |
Gunfire |
| Conservation Warden Mark H. Russell Jr. | |
Boating accident |
| Conservation Warden Robert B. Markle | |
Vehicle pursuit |
| Game Technician Neil L. LaFave | |
Gunfire |
| Conservation Warden Andrew A. Krakow | |
Gunfire |
| Conservation Warden Patrick Douglas Warner | |
Duty related illness |