DNR outlines budget, parks fee change, mariculture, hunting programs and disease surveillance
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Summary
The Department of Natural Resources briefed the committee on its $355 million budget, recent increases to the state park pass fee, oyster mariculture expansion, feral hog control and chronic wasting disease surveillance; Commissioner Raven highlighted program metrics and recent storm impacts.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources told the Natural Resources & Environment Committee that its overall budget is $355,000,000, of which about $181,000,000 are state funds, roughly $70,000,000 federal funds and about $101,000,000 other funds; the department employs approximately 2,700 people across five divisions, Commissioner Raven said.
Raven gave an overview of DNR divisions and recent program highlights. He said the state parks and historic sites system—more than 60 properties—hosted roughly 13,000,000 visitors last year and generated about $1,700,000,000 in economic impact. He noted that winter storms reduced park revenue—two canceled weekends cost more than $250,000—and that the annual park pass fee increased from $5 to $10 on Jan. 1 to help cover rising operating costs.
Raven updated the committee on fisheries and mariculture: HB 501 (2019) established a mariculture industry and DNR now manages three mariculture zones (Chatham, McIntosh and Glenn counties) with several contractors and pending permits. He said the agency and neighboring states have asked NOAA for a red snapper exempted fishing permit; Governor Kemp wrote to federal officials in support, and DNR expects a decision by May 1. The commissioner said the department has hired staff to do angler interviews and krill sampling to build management data.
On wildlife programs, Raven described DNR’s feral hog control pilot and incentive program (a $100,000 appropriation and quarterly trap drawings) and said partners report hundreds of thousands of hogs removed in recent years. He also reported on chronic wasting disease surveillance: after the first confirmed case in Berrien County, the department set up 78 sampling/freezer sites, established CWD zones and identified 14 confirmed cases to date; DNR received $250,000 in state support to assist management and outreach.
Committee members thanked the commissioner, noted customer-service strengths across DNR divisions and raised questions about beaver damage on farms; Raven said DNR provides technical assistance and training to local governments on mitigation but has not proposed a statewide trapping program. The chair adjourned the meeting.
