The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR or IA DNR) is a department/agency of the U.S. state

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 Iowa

Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

charged with maintaining state parks and forests; protecting the environment; and managing energy, fish, wildlife, land resources, and water resources of Iowa.

The Mission Statement: To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life for Iowans and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Law Enforcement

The Law Enforcement Bureau's conservation officers enforce laws related to fish, wildlife, boating, snowmobiling and all-terrain vehicles. They assist in wildlife and fish population surveys, provide conservation information to the public, and conduct hunter, boater, ATV and snowmobile safety programs.

State Forests

The Forestry Bureau provides forestry and prairie technical assistance to Iowa tree, forest and prairie owners and businesses. Services include forestry and prairie management planning, cost-share programs and education efforts. The bureau manages more than 40000 acres (161.9 km²) of forests for timber, wildlife, watershed protection and recreation. It operates state nurseries in Ames and Montrose, producing 4 million tree and shrub seedlings annually at low cost to the public for erosion control, wildlife habitat and reforestation.

State Parks and Preserves

The Parks and Preserves Bureau operates and maintains 84 parks and recreation areas in the state, which provide facilities for camping, cabins, picnicking, trails, swimming, boating and fishing. The bureau is also responsible for more than 90 state preserves set aside for their natural or cultural significance. The bureau supervises various programs in recreation planning and resource protection.

Hunting and Fishing

There are many opportunities for outdoor recreation in the state of Iowa.
The Wildlife Bureau manages 356000 acres (1,440.7 km²) of public land available for recreational use. Wildlife areas

Fishing

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources releases a weekly fishing report, compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff.

Non-Game Wildlife

Wildlife Diversity Program