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Missouri Director of Natural Resources

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Missouri Director of Natural Resources

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General information
Office Type:  Nonpartisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $160,821
2025 FY Budget:  $971,027,165
Term limits:  None
Structure
Length of term:   Serves at the governor's pleasure
Authority:  Missouri Constitution, Article IV, Section 47, the Executive Department
Selection Method:  Appointed by the governor with the consent of the Missouri State Senate.
Current Officeholder(s)

Missouri Director of Natural Resources Kurt Schaefer
Nonpartisan
Assumed office: January 13, 2025

Other Missouri Executive Offices
GovernorLieutenant GovernorSecretary of StateAttorney GeneralTreasurerAuditorCommissioner of EducationAgriculture DirectorInsurance DirectorNatural Resources DirectorLabor DirectorPublic Service Commission

The Missouri Director of Natural Resources is a state executive position in the Missouri state government. The director serves as head of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Created July 1, 1974, the mission of the department is, "to protect, preserve and enhance Missouri's natural, cultural and energy resources."[1] The director is a nonpartisan appointee of the governor.

Current officeholder

The current Missouri Director of Natural Resources is Kurt Schaefer (nonpartisan). Schaefer assumed office in 2025.

Authority

The Missouri Constitution addresses the office of the director of natural resources in Article IV, the Executive Department.

Under Article IV, Section 47:

The department of natural resources shall be in charge of a director appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate...

Qualifications

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Missouri Director of Natural Resources has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Appointments

Per Article IV, section 47 of the Missouri Constitution, the director of natural resources is appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Missouri State Senate.

Vacancies

Article IV, Section 4 of the Missouri Constitution gives the governor authority to fill vacancies in the office:

The governor shall fill all vacancies in public offices unless otherwise provided by law, and his appointees shall serve until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.[2]

Duties

See Energy policy in Missouri for information on the state's energy portfolio and goals.

The department deals with the issue of energy, helps develop mineral resources in an environmentally safe manner, protects Missouri's land, air and water resources and works to preserve the state's historic and natural heritage through state parks and state historic sites.[3]

Click here to view a larger-scale image of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Organizational Chart as of June 2025.

Divisions

As of January 25, 2021, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources features the following divisions:[4]

  • Office of the Director
  • Administrative Support - Jobs
  • Commissions and Boards
  • Soil and Water Conservation Program
  • Water Resources Center
  • Division of Energy
  • Division of Environmental Quality
  • Air Pollution Control Program
  • Environmental Services Program
  • Hazardous Waste Program
  • Land Reclamation Program
  • Regional and Satellite Offices
  • Solid Waste Management Program
  • Water Protection Program
  • Public Drinking Water Branch
  • Water Pollution Control Branch
  • Financial Assistance Center
  • Division of Geology and Land Survey
  • Administration
  • Geological Survey Program
  • Oil and Gas Wells
  • Land Survey Program
  • Division of State Parks
  • Park Rangers
  • State Historic Preservation Office
  • Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority
  • Market Development Program
  • Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund

State budget

See also: Missouri state budget and finances

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was $971,027,165.[5]

Compensation

Article IV, Section 21 of the Missouri Constitution addresses compensation of executive officials:

Under Article IV, Section 21:

The officers named in this article shall receive for their services salaries fixed by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during their terms.

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $160,821, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $138,970, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]

2021

In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $129,142, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

2020

In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $129,142, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

2019

In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $124,139, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

2018

In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $124,139, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

2017

In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $124,139, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

2016

In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $121,705, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

2015

In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $121,705, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

2014

In 2014, the director received a salary of $120,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

2013

In 2013, the director received a salary of $120,000.[16]

2010

In 2010, the director was paid an estimated $120,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]

Historical officeholders

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Missouri Director of Natural Resources has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Missouri Director Natural Resources. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Contact information

Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-3443
Toll Free: 800-361-4827
Email: contact@dnr.mo.gov

See also

Missouri State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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Missouri State Executive Offices
Missouri State Legislature
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State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. Missouri Department of Natural Resources, "About us," accessed January 25, 2021
  2. Missouri Revisor of Statutes, "Missouri Constitution Article IV Section 4," accessed January 25, 2021
  3. Missouri Department of Natural Resources, "About Us," accessed January 25, 2021
  4. Missouri Department of Natural Resources, "Divisions and Programs," accessed January 25, 2021
  5. Missouri Office of Administration, "Fiscal year 2025 Totals by Department," accessed January 21, 2025
  6. Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
  7. Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  8. Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
  9. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 25, 2021
  10. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 25, 2021
  11. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 25, 2021
  12. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 25, 2021
  13. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
  14. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
  15. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
  16. Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 30, 2014
  17. The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 21, 2011