Being named the state’s first “enterprise agency,” managing the cleanup of a major timber blowdown in northwestern Wisconsin and launching social media are among the highlights listed in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2011 Annual Report.

The annual report highlighting a number of significant accomplishments and public services achieved over the past year was presented to the state Natural Resources Board during its January meeting. Highlights of the report include:

• Designation as the first enterprise agency in Wisconsin; under the concept, DNR was given increased operating flexibility to enable the agency to improve customer service and business support and enhance it’s natural resources mission;

• Successfully managed the cleanup of the timber blowdown; following the July 1 windstorm in northwestern Wisconsin, DNR coordinated a multi-agency response to the 130,000 acres of damaged timber, the most extensive damage due to storms since 1976; DNR helped landowners with damaged woodlands find forestry assistance and a variety of resources for a successful recovery; and

• Launched the agency’s social media initiatives, including Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Flickr; the department joined the social media revolution this fall, giving Wisconsin’s deer hunters new ways to learn about the deer hunt and share their passions and photos on the hunt; within two months the agency has more than 3,000 people who have “Liked” the DNR Facebook page and more than 1,000 people who are now followers on Twitter. The Flickr page currently houses 2,626 photos.

The Department of Natural Resources Annual Report 2011 power point is available on the DNR website.