Vision, Mission, Values and Priorities - DNREC
Source: https://dnrec.delaware.gov/mission
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:29
Vision, Mission, Values and Priorities - DNREC
Divisions
Office of the Secretary
Div. of Climate, Coastal and Energy
Div. of Air Quality
Div. of Water
Div. of Waste and Hazardous Substances
Div. of Fish and Wildlife
Div. of Parks and Recreation
Div. of Watershed Stewardship
About DNREC
DNREC Divisions
Boards and Councils
Vision and Mission
Delaware Coastal Cleanup
Environmental Justice at DNREC
Civil Rights and DNREC
Work for DNREC!
Internships with DNREC
Natural Resources Police
Topics of Interest
Open Data
Online Apps
E-Mail Lists
Coastal Zone Act
Admin. Law
Regulatory Development
Regulations
Environmental Permitting
DNREC Permit Fees
Secretary’s Orders
Public Notices
Public Meetings
Public Hearings
Environmental Appeals Board
Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board
FOIA Requests
DNREC News
Newsroom
Meetings and Events
Outdoor Delaware
Brand and Logo
Social Media
Digital Newsletter
Be the First to Know
Contact Us
DNREC Menu
Listen
Office of the Secretary
Home
Contact Us
Budget & Finance
Environmental Finance Office
Delaware Clean Water Initiative
Water Infrastructure Advisory Council
Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund
Administrative Services
Administrative Law Section
DNREC Regulations
Business Assistance
Regulatory Advisory Service
DNREC FOIA Requests
Communications
DNREC Newsroom
Public Meetings and Events
Outdoor Delaware Magazine
DNREC Social Media
Digital Newsletter
Brand and Visual Identity: Vibrant Delaware
Environmental Justice
The Environmental Justice Office
Environmental Justice at DNREC
Civil Rights and DNREC
Community Resources
Data and Information
Public Participation
Law Enforcement
Delaware Natural Resources Police
Contact Information
Environmental Crimes Unit
Fish and Wildlife Unit
State Park Unit
Police Accountability Committee
Delaware Natural Resources Police 411
Natural Resources Police Recruitment
Employment
Work for DNREC
Internships with DNREC
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) envisions a Delaware that offers a healthy environment where people embrace a commitment to the protection, enhancement and enjoyment of the environment in their daily lives; where Delawareans’ stewardship of natural resources ensures the sustainability of these resources for the appreciation and enjoyment of future generations; and where people recognize that a healthy environment and a strong economy support one another.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is to:
Engage
all stakeholders to ensure the wise management, conservation and enhancement of the State’s natural resources;
Protect
public health and the environment;
Provide
quality outdoor recreation;
Improve
the quality of life;
Lead
energy policy and climate preparedness;
And
educate
the public on historic, cultural and natural resource use, requirements and issues.
Values
As employees of DNREC we pledge to keep these values in a constant state of use, challenge and renewal for the good of our colleagues and the people we serve.
Integrity
We make and keep our agreements that are specific, measurable and time-sensitive. If changing situations make this impossible, we explain our inability to those concerned. We take responsibility for our actions and the quality of our work. We use our mistakes to create a learning environment.
Respect
We communicate calmly, openly, honestly, directly, professionally and respectfully without sarcasm, profanity and condescension. We listen attentively and without interruption. We demonstrate our commitment to understand one another by asking clarifying questions. We acknowledge and are considerate of others’ points of view and are nonjudgmental.
Customer Focus
We continuously improve internal and external customer trust. We work with customers to understand and anticipate their wants and needs. We welcome customer suggestions. We make suggestions and recommendations that may better suit our customers’ needs. We always keep our customers informed and acknowledge their requests promptly.
Openness
We execute our duties in an open and public manner.
Quality
We value innovation and continuous improvement in the quality of everything we do. We encourage all Department staff to think creatively and suggest new or better processes, products, or services.
Equal Opportunity Employment
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) continues to promote a diverse workforce in which each employee at every level of the organization is valued and respected. The department is focused on ensuring a workforce climate that is inclusive by continuing to promote equal opportunities to all persons of diverse backgrounds regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran or military status.
FY22 Equal Opportunity Employment/Affirmative Action Report and FY23 Action Plan
Strategic Priorities
Preserving Outdoor Heritage and Promoting Tourism
Includes maintenance of parks and wildlife areas, the Delaware Bayshore Initiative, open space conservation and ecological preservation through easements and other cooperative efforts, redevelopment of strategic sites, and preservation of the coastal zone.
Supporting Healthy Families
Includes supporting outdoor recreation, the Children in Nature Initiative (“No Child Left Inside”), and working with DelDOT and others to complete the First State Trails and Pathways Plan to connect public open space throughout Delaware.
Improving Delaware’s Preparedness
Includes investing in critical infrastructure such as dams, impoundments, dikes and other water control structures, wetland conservation to reduce flooding (and improve water quality and enhance wildlife and fisheries habitat), shoreline nourishment and beach protection, mitigation and adaptation planning for sea level rise and other effects of climate change, reducing the production of greenhouse gases, improving stormwater management, maintaining emergency response preparedness, and developing environmental indicators to track progress.
Creating Cleaner, Lower Priced and More Reliable Energy
Includes implementing energy efficiency recommendations, investing in clean and renewable energy infrastructure, modernizing power plants, working to reduce cross-state air pollution, and promoting cleaner transportation solutions.
Ensuring Clean Water
Includes investing in clean water infrastructure, watershed-based and cooperative restoration projects for the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, the Nanticoke River, the Inland Bays, the Ocean shore, and other areas, supporting conservation cost-share projects for Delaware farmers, groundwater protection, removing toxics from Delaware waters, and supporting beneficial re-use of treated wastewater.
Supporting Safe and Sustainable Communities
Includes providing targeted financial assistance to support local and regional environmental initiatives, supporting recycling, cleaning, managing and returning to use lands that had been polluted, providing waste management solutions, and providing technical assistance to county and local governments to assist in land-use, water supply, wastewater management and other governmental functions.
Organizational Development
Includes continued reevaluation, re-engineering and improvement of DNREC functions, support for workforce diversity, training, and promotion, providing a safe workplace, building and supporting inter-agency collaboration and teamwork, and creating a culture of continuous improvement.
Providing Core Services
Includes meeting or exceeding permitting performance standards, maintaining core customer services, providing prompt, friendly and effective assistance to the public, and maintaining agency-wide openness and transparency.
Related Topics:
goals
,
mission
,
office of the secretary
,
organization
,
priorities
,
strategic plan
,
values
Office of the Secretary
Division of Air Quality
Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances
Division of Water
Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Division of Parks and Recreation
Division of Watershed Stewardship
DNREC Newsroom
Public Meetings
Public Notices
DNREC Regulations
Environmental Justice
Non-Discrimination Notice
DNREC Open Data
FOIA Requests
DNREC Divisions
About DNREC
Work for DNREC!
Contact Us
+
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Divisions
Office of the Secretary
Div. of Climate, Coastal and Energy
Div. of Air Quality
Div. of Water
Div. of Waste and Hazardous Substances
Div. of Fish and Wildlife
Div. of Parks and Recreation
Div. of Watershed Stewardship
About DNREC
DNREC Divisions
Boards and Councils
Vision and Mission
Delaware Coastal Cleanup
Environmental Justice at DNREC
Civil Rights and DNREC
Work for DNREC!
Internships with DNREC
Natural Resources Police
Topics of Interest
Open Data
Online Apps
E-Mail Lists
Coastal Zone Act
Admin. Law
Regulatory Development
Regulations
Environmental Permitting
DNREC Permit Fees
Secretary’s Orders
Public Notices
Public Meetings
Public Hearings
Environmental Appeals Board
Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board
FOIA Requests
DNREC News
Newsroom
Meetings and Events
Outdoor Delaware
Brand and Logo
Social Media
Digital Newsletter
Be the First to Know
Contact Us
DNREC Menu
Listen
Office of the Secretary
Home
Contact Us
Budget & Finance
Environmental Finance Office
Delaware Clean Water Initiative
Water Infrastructure Advisory Council
Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund
Administrative Services
Administrative Law Section
DNREC Regulations
Business Assistance
Regulatory Advisory Service
DNREC FOIA Requests
Communications
DNREC Newsroom
Public Meetings and Events
Outdoor Delaware Magazine
DNREC Social Media
Digital Newsletter
Brand and Visual Identity: Vibrant Delaware
Environmental Justice
The Environmental Justice Office
Environmental Justice at DNREC
Civil Rights and DNREC
Community Resources
Data and Information
Public Participation
Law Enforcement
Delaware Natural Resources Police
Contact Information
Environmental Crimes Unit
Fish and Wildlife Unit
State Park Unit
Police Accountability Committee
Delaware Natural Resources Police 411
Natural Resources Police Recruitment
Employment
Work for DNREC
Internships with DNREC
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) envisions a Delaware that offers a healthy environment where people embrace a commitment to the protection, enhancement and enjoyment of the environment in their daily lives; where Delawareans’ stewardship of natural resources ensures the sustainability of these resources for the appreciation and enjoyment of future generations; and where people recognize that a healthy environment and a strong economy support one another.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is to:
Engage
all stakeholders to ensure the wise management, conservation and enhancement of the State’s natural resources;
Protect
public health and the environment;
Provide
quality outdoor recreation;
Improve
the quality of life;
Lead
energy policy and climate preparedness;
And
educate
the public on historic, cultural and natural resource use, requirements and issues.
Values
As employees of DNREC we pledge to keep these values in a constant state of use, challenge and renewal for the good of our colleagues and the people we serve.
Integrity
We make and keep our agreements that are specific, measurable and time-sensitive. If changing situations make this impossible, we explain our inability to those concerned. We take responsibility for our actions and the quality of our work. We use our mistakes to create a learning environment.
Respect
We communicate calmly, openly, honestly, directly, professionally and respectfully without sarcasm, profanity and condescension. We listen attentively and without interruption. We demonstrate our commitment to understand one another by asking clarifying questions. We acknowledge and are considerate of others’ points of view and are nonjudgmental.
Customer Focus
We continuously improve internal and external customer trust. We work with customers to understand and anticipate their wants and needs. We welcome customer suggestions. We make suggestions and recommendations that may better suit our customers’ needs. We always keep our customers informed and acknowledge their requests promptly.
Openness
We execute our duties in an open and public manner.
Quality
We value innovation and continuous improvement in the quality of everything we do. We encourage all Department staff to think creatively and suggest new or better processes, products, or services.
Equal Opportunity Employment
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) continues to promote a diverse workforce in which each employee at every level of the organization is valued and respected. The department is focused on ensuring a workforce climate that is inclusive by continuing to promote equal opportunities to all persons of diverse backgrounds regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran or military status.
FY22 Equal Opportunity Employment/Affirmative Action Report and FY23 Action Plan
Strategic Priorities
Preserving Outdoor Heritage and Promoting Tourism
Includes maintenance of parks and wildlife areas, the Delaware Bayshore Initiative, open space conservation and ecological preservation through easements and other cooperative efforts, redevelopment of strategic sites, and preservation of the coastal zone.
Supporting Healthy Families
Includes supporting outdoor recreation, the Children in Nature Initiative (“No Child Left Inside”), and working with DelDOT and others to complete the First State Trails and Pathways Plan to connect public open space throughout Delaware.
Improving Delaware’s Preparedness
Includes investing in critical infrastructure such as dams, impoundments, dikes and other water control structures, wetland conservation to reduce flooding (and improve water quality and enhance wildlife and fisheries habitat), shoreline nourishment and beach protection, mitigation and adaptation planning for sea level rise and other effects of climate change, reducing the production of greenhouse gases, improving stormwater management, maintaining emergency response preparedness, and developing environmental indicators to track progress.
Creating Cleaner, Lower Priced and More Reliable Energy
Includes implementing energy efficiency recommendations, investing in clean and renewable energy infrastructure, modernizing power plants, working to reduce cross-state air pollution, and promoting cleaner transportation solutions.
Ensuring Clean Water
Includes investing in clean water infrastructure, watershed-based and cooperative restoration projects for the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, the Nanticoke River, the Inland Bays, the Ocean shore, and other areas, supporting conservation cost-share projects for Delaware farmers, groundwater protection, removing toxics from Delaware waters, and supporting beneficial re-use of treated wastewater.
Supporting Safe and Sustainable Communities
Includes providing targeted financial assistance to support local and regional environmental initiatives, supporting recycling, cleaning, managing and returning to use lands that had been polluted, providing waste management solutions, and providing technical assistance to county and local governments to assist in land-use, water supply, wastewater management and other governmental functions.
Organizational Development
Includes continued reevaluation, re-engineering and improvement of DNREC functions, support for workforce diversity, training, and promotion, providing a safe workplace, building and supporting inter-agency collaboration and teamwork, and creating a culture of continuous improvement.
Providing Core Services
Includes meeting or exceeding permitting performance standards, maintaining core customer services, providing prompt, friendly and effective assistance to the public, and maintaining agency-wide openness and transparency.
Related Topics:
goals
,
mission
,
office of the secretary
,
organization
,
priorities
,
strategic plan
,
values
Office of the Secretary
Division of Air Quality
Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances
Division of Water
Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Division of Parks and Recreation
Division of Watershed Stewardship
DNREC Newsroom
Public Meetings
Public Notices
DNREC Regulations
Environmental Justice
Non-Discrimination Notice
DNREC Open Data
FOIA Requests
DNREC Divisions
About DNREC
Work for DNREC!
Contact Us
+
Delaware's Government
Delaware's Governor
State Agencies
Elected Officials
General Assembly
Delaware Courts
State Employees
Cities & Towns
Delaware State Code
State Regulations
Business First Steps
Phone Directory
Locations Directory
Public Meetings
Voting & Elections
Transparency
Health Insurance
Tax Center
Personal Income Tax
Privacy Policy
Weather & Travel
Contact Us
Corporations
Franchise Tax
Gross Receipts Tax
Withholding Tax
Delaware Topics
Help Center
Mobile Apps
E-mail / Text Alerts
Social Media
Make Text Size Smaler
Reset Text Size
Make Text Size Bigger
Built by the
Government Information Center
©MMXXVI
Delaware.gov
-