The Utah Department of Natural Resources and its partners will soon begin restoring nearly 100,000 acres of land burned in 36 wildfires this year through Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI).
The waterfalls at Gunlock State Park have ceased to flow due to an operational modification of Gunlock Reservoir requested by the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation. High levels of visitation have made it difficult for individuals and families to social distance themselves from others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A recently released four-year study by the Utah Geological Survey (UGS) provides new detailed mapping of faults along the Wasatch Front that are capable of surface rupture.
In the wake of COVID-19, state and federal land managing agencies are coordinating together to help Utahns better navigate outdoor recreational opportunities, restrictions and changing conditions at both state and national parks, as well as other recreation areas statewide.
Darin Bird currently serves as DNR deputy director. He joined Department leadership in 1998 as communication director and legislative liaison. As deputy director, he has continued his work with the legislature and also works with congressional delegation on federal issues. His current portfolio includes supervision of the Divisions of Parks and Recreation, Water Resources and the Utah Geological Survey. Bird is also DNR’s representative on the Virgin River Administration Committee and the Upper Colorado River Program.
Roger Lewis became the Finance Director for DNR in April of 2017. His primary responsibilities include managing DNR’s finances and coordinating budgeting and accounting activities with DNR’s seven divisions. Lewis also oversees the internal audit function of the department.
Tyler Thompson has worked for DNR since 1997 starting his career as a seasonal employee collecting vegetation trend data for DNR’s Division of Wildlife Resources Range trend program. Since this time, Tyler has worked as a research biologist in the development of new grass and forb seed releases and as one of the first restoration biologists hired to implement projects in southern Utah funded through Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative (UWRI). For the last decade, Tyler has been a part of WRI’s statewide administration staff. In that position, Tyler helped find matching funding for WRI projects and administered the incoming and outgoing funding contracts to help get project dollars on the ground each year. In January of 2017, Tyler was selected as DNR’s watershed program director. Tyler coordinates and manages WRI through five regional teams that submit and review over 150 restoration projects each year. WRI completes nearly 100,000 acres of restoration work each year in Utah.
An avid hunter and a longtime career in wildlife law enforcement, Mike Fowlks has more than 24 years experience with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). He has served as the division’s deputy director since 2012 and was appointed as director in 2017. Fowlks primary responsibilities include overseeing more than 600 state employees and managing and protecting Utah’s wildlife and fisheries, including 140 wildlife management areas and 12 fish hatcheries.
Nathan Schwebach joined DNR in 2015 as the communications director and public information officer. His primary responsibilities include managing DNR’s public and government outreach efforts and overseeing the department’s social and digital platforms. Schwebach also coordinates marketing and media outreach efforts between DNR and its seven divisions.
Todd Royce currently serves as the DNR law enforcement director and joined the department in 2018. Royce works closely with DNR division leadership and section chiefs to oversee the public safety efforts of DNR law enforcement, including wildlife conservation officers and state park rangers.
Christopher Keleher has been the DNR director of Recovery Programs since 2018. He serves as program director for both the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program and the Virgin River Resource Management and Recovery Program. He also represents Utah on the Colorado River Fish Recovery Program where he serves as chair of the Management Committee. Keleher works statewide to help solve conflicts between local communities and species conservation.
