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OutdoorIllinois
VOLUME IX, NUMBER 3
OUTDOOR ILLINOIS is published monthly by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Public Services, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone (217) 782-7454, e-mail editor@dnrmail.state.il.us.
(Publication number: ISSN 1072-7175) Periodical Postage Paid at Springfield, IL POSTMASTER: Send address changes to OUTDOOR ILLINOIS, Department of Natural Resources, Dept. NL, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787.
George H. Ryan Governor
Brent Manning Director
James D. Garner Deputy Director
Jim Riemer, Jr. Deputy Director
STAFF: James L. Fulgenzi, office director; Gary Thomas, editor; Liz Pensoneau, managing editor; John Alien, staff writer; P.J. Perea, staff writer; Adele Hodde, chief photographer; Chas. J. Dees, staff photographer; Charles J. Copley, design & layout; Cheryl Gwinn, production coordinator; Vera Lynn Smith, circulation.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Internet Address: http://dnr.state.il.us
Staff-written material appearing in this publication may be reprinted without permission, provided that OUTDOOR ILLINOIS, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, is acknowledged as the source. OUTDOOR ILLINOIS assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or illustrations.
Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source's civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, DNR, 524 S. Second, Springfield, IL 62701-1787; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175.
All public meetings conducted by the Department of Natural Resources will be accessible to handicapped individuals in compliance with Executive Order No. 5 and pertinent state and federal laws, upon notification of the anticipated attendance. Handicapped persons planning to attend and needing special accommodations should inform the Department of Natural Resources at least five days prior to the meeting by telephoning or writing the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Department of Natural Resources, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone (217) 785-0067.
Department of Natural Resources information is available to the hearing impaired by calling DNR's Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (217) 782-9175.
Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois PRT3216173-28,395-7/01 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with soy-based ink.
Illinois Department of
Natural Resources
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It's About Antlers
Deer season can result in some tasty meals and bragging rights for a number of Land of Lincoln hunters.
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Wooden Trophies
This Chicago-area carver is recreating sportsmens' days afield in wood. |
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Prairie Partnership
DNR has teamed up with the Forest Park Foundation to provide a glimpse of native habitat and life on the Illinois prairie at the state's newest haven for family fun and learning.
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Why Did the Snake Cross the Road
Can it be true that a road is actually closed each year for a snake migration? Guest writer Gretchen Mominee reveals the facts about the annual event.
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Changes
Turkey hunters will find one significant difference in the reporting system when they go to the field this spring.
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NewsFront
We'll tell you about a grant to aid teachers, a new book on eagles, how the Wildlife Preservation Fund is being used, about some rare winter visitors, a photo contest at Lake Shelbyville, how to vote for a national tree and several Open Land Trust land purchases, plus you will learn how to read your mailing label and check on the status of your turkey permit in this month's NewsFront.
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On the cover...
You're probably thinking Wyoming, but Chief Photographer Adele Hodde captured this month's cover photo of a bison at Wildlife Prairie State Park, near Peoria.
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March 2001
Brent Manning
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The Department's Office of Resource Conservation (ORC) recently underwent a restructuring that will enable it to better utilize the talents of field staff to solve problems and deliver programs in a more efficient manner.
As the Department moves toward a goal of ecosystem-based management, the reorganization challenges field personnel to broaden their approach rather than focusing solely on their particular discipline.
The first part of the restructuring centralized administrative functions such as budget, personnel, grants and federal aid programs. These are contained in the new ORC Operations Unit. A second portion of the change created a Special Projects Unit that contains the Wetlands, Watershed Management, Agriculture Lease, Conservation Reserve Enhancement, Corps of Engineers and Ecoteam programs.
The third, and most significant component, created Regional Resource Managers. They directly supervise regional fisheries, wildlife, forestry and natural heritage administrators and field staff in developing regional goals and integrating and implementing programs at that level.
Since there will always be a need for expertise within individual disciplines, the divisions of Fisheries, Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Heritage have been retained. Division leaders kept their program and project staffs, as well as propagation units (Fisheries and Forestry).
Under the ORC's old structure, field staff answered to regional administrators who reported to their respective division chiefs. The division chiefs, in turn, would work together to manage the state's resources.
Regional Resource Managers (RRMs), as well as the chiefs of the Fisheries, Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Heritage divisions, now report directly to the director of the Office of Resource Conservation (ORC). Also reporting to the ORC director are the chiefs of the Operations and Special Protects units.
With the focus now on a more holistic management approach, it is more efficient for resource administrators to work together at a regional level, where problems and solutions are more readily apparent.
The division chiefs and the RRMs also work together to develop an operational plan that establishes statewide resource management goals, sets priorities to reach those goals, and assigns duties for an annual work plan.
The RRMs, because they are closer to the situation than administrators in Springfield, know what their individual regions need and how those needs fit under the statewide goals. This enables them to tailor their approach to the specific requirements of their area.
Over the past several years the Department has implemented programs such as Conservation 2000, Conservation Reserve Enhancement and Illinois Rivers 2020 as part of our emphasis on total ecosystem management. To ensure these worthy programs do not fail, we must use our talents and channel our efforts to solve problems and deliver services as efficiently as possible.
Our field biologists are the ORC's greatest asset. The restructuring allows us to use that asset to its utmost ability.
OutdoorIllinois
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