Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Midwest Natural Resources Group?
The Midwest Natural Resources Group (MNRG) is a partnership effort to bring focus and excellence to Federal activities in support of the health, vitality and sustainability of natural resources and the environment.
What is the purpose of the Midwest Natural Resources Group?
The purpose of the MNRG is to seek opportunities for collaboration and communication by:
- Sharing best agency practices and identifying common issues, coordinating actions, resolving conflicts, and enhancing the effectiveness of existing funded natural resource efforts being undertaken;
- Exploring and committing to new opportunities for cooperation, collaboration and action at the regional and local scales;
- Promoting the maximum efficient use of agency resources within existing systems while not creating new levels of bureaucracy;
- Improving agencies' ability to achieve their strategic plans;
- Reporting cooperative accomplishments in order to promote greater understanding and awareness of the high environmental and socio-economic values and needs of the region's natural resources;
- Garnering Federal focus and fiscal support toward the enhancement of the resources; and
- Providing enhanced accountability to the public and better utilization of limited resources to reap maximum benefits for the natural resources, environment and people of the Midwest.
When and why was the Midwest Natural Resources Group founded?
The MNRG was formally established in 1998 primarily as a forum for senior executives to attain proactive coordination, eliminate duplication and clearly establish the proper role for each federal bureau within the Midwest, including the Upper Mississippi River, Missouri River, Ohio River and the Great lakes watersheds.
Who belongs to the Midwest Natural Resources Group?
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Bureau of Land Management
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Federal Highway Administration
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Park Service
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US Coast Guard
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- USDA Forest Service
- US Geological Survey
What is the goal of the Midwest Natural Resources Group?
The goal of the MNRG is to function as a partnership of Federal agency executives that advocate excellence in Federal activities in support of the health, vitality, and sustainable stewardship of natural resource systems within the Midwest, particularly the Upper Mississippi River, Missouri River, Ohio River and the Great Lakes watersheds.
The MNRG aims to achieve this overarching goal through enhanced communications, coordination and collaboration on mutually recognized resource issues and by providing timely interagency assistance where needed for the benefit of the American people. This accountability is required by the Government Performance and Results Act.
What are the major landscapes/drainage basins within the MNRG?
Illinois River
Minnesota River
Missouri River
Ozark Plateau
St. Croix and Upper Mississippi River
Ohio River
Detroit River/St. Claire River
Fox River/Green Bay
Saginaw River and Bay
Southern Lake Erie
Southern Lake Michigan
Great Lakes in general
What has this group accomplished?
The MNRG's Annual Meeting has been praised for being of "high value [for] bringing together senior leaders, leading technical experts, interested individuals, state and local governments, and non-government organizations in a healthy atmosphere of communication."
It is this type of coordination - agencies proactively interacting with other agencies and organizations in the relaxed, yet professional and non-confrontational forum made possible by the MNRG - that fosters strategic partnerships for innovative solutions to environmental and natural resource problems. It has also been identified as perhaps the greatest single accomplishment - and has resulted in the most valuable benefits - from the MNRG.
For information on other MNRG Accomplishments , please go to the "Accomplishments" section of this web site. There you will find summaries of the organization's various accomplishments with links to more detailed information and contacts.
How often do they meet?
The senior leaders meet twice a year in May and November. The group's Annual Meeting for seniors and agency staff is held in November. Senior level conference calls are conducted at other times throughout the year. The Planning and Communications Committees meet via conference calls periodically throughout the year to monitor progress, coordinate activities, and discuss initiatives, issues and concerns.
Why is this group limited to the Midwest and why these boundaries?
The Midwest region of the country has unique challenges that are unlike those of coastal regions. The great rivers and drainage basins of the Midwest, with their ecosystems, wildlife and inland waterway navigation, and the Great Lakes , largest natural fresh water lakes in the world, pose different challenges and require regionally coordinated solutions. The regional boundaries of a number of Federal agencies and the natural landscape of watersheds and topography determined the geographic boundaries of the Group's area.
Are states and other local and citizen groups involved?
State agencies and local units of government, tribes, non-profit and citizen groups participate as partners in MNRG activities, as appropriate.