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 Lands 28 State Parks 34 Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries 42
<strong>Department</strong> Overview The <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Conservation</strong> and Natural Resources is an executive and 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 and Legislature on management <strong>of</strong> freshwater fish, wildlife, marine resources, waterway safety, state lands, state parks, and other natural resources. Scope <strong>of</strong> Operations The <strong>Department</strong>’s scope <strong>of</strong> operations includes the administration, management and 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, and 645,000 acres <strong>of</strong> trust lands managed for the benefit <strong>of</strong> several state agencies, the General Fund and <strong>Alabama</strong> Trust Fund. Other departmental functions include maintenance <strong>of</strong> a State Land Resource Information Center and administration <strong>of</strong> the Forever Wild land acquisition program. Organization During Fiscal Year <strong>2009</strong>, the <strong>Department</strong> had five operational divisions and seven support sections. The operational divisions were Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Support sections were Accounting, Diversity and Recruiting, Engineering, Information and Education, Information Technology, Legal, Personnel and 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 and the Commissioner. Concerted efforts were made to balance needs and requirements against resources and available funding to satisfy present and future public and resource requirements. Active public education and voluntary participation programs were expanded and 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 and enjoyment <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>’s natural resources, and to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy these resources. license fees, and mandated interest from endowment and 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 and federal grants. Marine Resources: Saltwater fishing licenses, fines, marine gas tax and federal grants. Marine Resources also has an endowment but it has not grown enough to enhance operations. State Lands: Management fees from the sale <strong>of</strong> timber, minerals and various leases on state lands administered under the Land 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 and other recreational fees. State Parks received a modest amount <strong>of</strong> funding from cigarette tax revenue. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries: Fishing and hunting licenses and permits; fines; waterfowl stamps; federal allocations from excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, archery gear and some fishing tackle; and federal grants. Interest income, although at slightly declining interest rates, continues to be generated by the Game and Fish endowment fund for resident lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. Direct donations and 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> and 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 and ALDCNR 09-10 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 5
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