Summary of Aquatic Programs
Administered by the
WV Division of Natural Resources
Dan Cincotta
WVDNR
P. O. Box 67
Elkins, 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 Statement
Wildlife 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
Fish Management
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 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 Management Strategies
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
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)