The department was established in 1957 and has been in operations ever since, although the agency experiences several changes throughout its years. In its year of founding, only four departments existed: the division of water resources, state lands, forestry, as well as oil and gas conservation.[4] By 1977, the oil and gas conservation division was changed into the mineral resources division, and five new divisions were also created: the division of state park, the division of conservation districts, the division of environmental protection, the division of water planning, and the division of historic preservation and archaeology.[5] Of these nine divisions, eight of them (excluding the mineral resources division, which became the Nevada Division of Minerals), existed in the current structure of the department, although their names have undergone some changes.
Structure
Entrance to Kershaw Ryan State Park
The department includes the following eight divisions:[6]
Division of Environmental Protection
Division of Forestry
Office of Historic Preservation
Division of Natural Heritage
Division of Outdoor Recreation
Division of State Lands
Division of State Parks
Division of Water Resources.
Aside from its eight divisions, the DCNR also operates three standalone programs:[1]
Nevada Conservation Districts Program: Supports Nevada’s community-based conservation districts by providing resources to conserve soil, water, and related resources.
Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Program: Interagency program to protect and enhance Nevada’s sagebrush landscape.
Nevada Off-Highway Vehicles Program: Regulates off-road recreation and provides funding for off-highway vehicle trail improvements.
The DCNR also manages the following commissions and councils: State Environmental Commission, State Conservation Commission, Board for Financing Water Projects, Well Drillers’ Advisory Board, Board to Review Petroleum Claims, State Land Use Planning Advisory Council, Sagebrush Ecosystem Council.[1]
