Table <strong>of</strong> Contents Overview 5 <strong>Conservation</strong> Advisory Board 6 Organizational Chart 7 Administrative 8 Marine Police 16 Marine Resources 20 State L<strong>and</strong>s 26 State Parks 30 Wildlife <strong>and</strong> Freshwater Fisheries 38
<strong>Department</strong> Overview The <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Conservation</strong> <strong>and</strong> Natural Resources is an executive <strong>and</strong> administrative department <strong>of</strong> the State <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> created by statute. The Commissioner, appointed by the Governor as a member <strong>of</strong> his cabinet, advises the Governor <strong>and</strong> Legislature on management <strong>of</strong> freshwater fish, wildlife, marine resources, waterway safety, state l<strong>and</strong>s, state parks, <strong>and</strong> other natural resources. Scope <strong>of</strong> Operations The <strong>Department</strong>’s scope <strong>of</strong> operations includes the administration, management <strong>and</strong> maintenance <strong>of</strong> 22 state parks, 23 public fishing lakes, three freshwater fish hatcheries, 35 wildlife management areas, two waterfowl refuges, two wildlife sanctuaries, a mariculture center with 35 ponds, <strong>and</strong> 645,000 acres <strong>of</strong> trust l<strong>and</strong>s managed for the benefit <strong>of</strong> several state agencies, the General Fund <strong>and</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> Trust Fund. Other departmental functions include maintenance <strong>of</strong> a State L<strong>and</strong> Resource Information Center <strong>and</strong> administration <strong>of</strong> the Forever Wild l<strong>and</strong> acquisition program. Organization During Fiscal Year 2009, the <strong>Department</strong> had five operational divisions <strong>and</strong> seven support sections. The operational divisions were Marine Police, Marine Resources, State L<strong>and</strong>s, State Parks <strong>and</strong> Wildlife <strong>and</strong> Freshwater Fisheries. Support sections were Accounting, Diversity <strong>and</strong> Recruiting, Engineering, Information <strong>and</strong> Education, Information Technology, Legal, Personnel <strong>and</strong> Payroll. The Commissioner was advised by a 10-member <strong>Conservation</strong> Advisory Board appointed by the Governor. Division directors managed the <strong>Department</strong>’s programs under their jurisdiction through authority delegated by the Legislature <strong>and</strong> the Commissioner. Concerted efforts were made to balance needs <strong>and</strong> requirements against resources <strong>and</strong> available funding to satisfy present <strong>and</strong> future public <strong>and</strong> resource requirements. Active public education <strong>and</strong> voluntary participation programs were exp<strong>and</strong>ed <strong>and</strong> new plans were implemented to achieve maximum multiple-use benefits consistent with resource conservation. <strong>Department</strong> Goals The <strong>Department</strong>’s major goal is to promote the statewide stewardship <strong>and</strong> enjoyment <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>’s natural resources, <strong>and</strong> to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy these resources. license fees, <strong>and</strong> m<strong>and</strong>ated interest from endowment <strong>and</strong> federal regulations. The Forever Wild Program receives interest income from the <strong>Alabama</strong> Trust Fund. Specific revenue sources for the five operational divisions are as follows: Marine Police: Boat registration fees, fines, marine gas tax <strong>and</strong> federal grants. Marine Resources: Saltwater fishing licenses, fines, marine gas tax <strong>and</strong> federal grants. Marine Resources also has an endowment but it has not grown enough to enhance operations. State L<strong>and</strong>s: Management fees from the sale <strong>of</strong> timber, minerals <strong>and</strong> various leases on state l<strong>and</strong>s administered under the L<strong>and</strong> Based Asset Management Program. Further, the division receives additional federal grants which support specific programs. State Parks: User-generated funds in the form <strong>of</strong> entrance, rental, lodging, golf <strong>and</strong> other recreational fees. State Parks received a modest amount <strong>of</strong> funding from cigarette tax revenue. Wildlife <strong>and</strong> Freshwater Fisheries: Fishing <strong>and</strong> hunting licenses <strong>and</strong> permits; fines; waterfowl stamps; federal allocations from excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, archery gear <strong>and</strong> some fishing tackle; <strong>and</strong> federal grants. Interest income, although at slightly declining interest rates, continues to be generated by the Game <strong>and</strong> Fish endowment fund for resident lifetime hunting <strong>and</strong> fishing licenses. Direct donations <strong>and</strong> voluntary state income tax refund check<strong>of</strong>fs for the Nongame Wildlife Program continue to decrease from previous fiscal years. <strong>Department</strong> Overview Funding The <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Conservation</strong> <strong>and</strong> Natural Resources receives no General Fund support. Funding for the <strong>Department</strong> is generated through special revenues, which include federal money, cigarette taxes, user <strong>and</strong> ALDCNR 08-09 Annual Report 5
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