Summary of Aquatic Programs Administered by the

WV Division of Natural Resources

Dan Cincotta WVDNRP. O. Box 67Elkins, WV 26241

Department of Natural Resources

• Currently consists of three Agencies

– Wildlife Resources

– Law Enforcement

– Parks and Recreation

• Only Law Enforcement has significant regulatory authority

Summary of Mission StatementWildlife Resources Section

• “…. to conserve, protect, and manage the state’s wildlife”

• “…… to manage the public’s recreational opportunities, derived from the state’s wildlife resources”

• Warmwater Fish Management

• Coldwater Fish Management

• Game Management

• Technical Support

• Wildlife Diversity

Fish Management

Develops programs to provide a variety of opportunities and experiences to anglers

Conducts research on sport fishes of the state

Stock sport species to enhance opportunities

Develop access to public waterways

Recommend regulations that benefit fish populations and the associated resources

Conduct educational outreach

Make recommendations for habitat protection, improvement, and restoration

Fish Management

Fish Management Strategies

Fish Population Assessments

Monitor fish populations, particularly in lakes

Determine fish species interactions

Manage fish populations so that they sustain angler harvest objectives

Fish Tagging Studies

Monitor fish movement

Estimate fish harvest

Evaluate fish growth and health

Fish Management Strategies

Health Evaluations

Evaluate and monitor fish disease concerns

Determine potential causes and solutions to fish disease issues

Tissue contaminate analyses

Manage fish populations for anglers

Fish Management Strategies

WRS Wetlands Program• Technical Support Unit of WRS administers program• Clean Water Act 1972• US Army Corps of Engineers defined channeled and

non-channeled resources other than navigable in 1977• Importance of wetlands acknowledged• Recognized that > 53% of 89.4 million ha. had been lost

by mid 1970s• Made it illegal to dredge

and place fill in wetlands• Required permits and

mitigation (Section 404)