DNR employees earn continuous improvement Green Belt certification
 The latest cohort of Green Belt graduates. Top row, (L-R): Anna Grannes (OSD), Aaron Cisewski (OSD), Kerstin Larson. Bottom row, (L-R): Shamiah Specht (OSD), Verónica Jaralambides (PAT).
Five DNR employees recently earned Green Belt certification, preparing them to manage projects to improve work efficiency and solve process problems.
Trainees participated in eight days of online training from August to October 2020 concluding with final project presentations and an exam. Each trainee led a project over the course of the training to improve processes at the DNR. Project teams are in the process of implementing improvements.
The team led by Kerstin Larson (Lands and Minerals) researched root causes and solutions to improve the division’s regional resource review process for proposed real estate transactions.
The team led by Aaron Cisewski (Operation Services) researched how to increase the percentage of fleet incident damage that is repaired within 60 days of incident from 57 percent to 93 percent.
The team led by Shamiah Specht (Operation Services) focused on reducing the amount of time the Creative Services Unit (CSU) staff spend on administrative tasks while creating a clear intake process for CSU project requests.
The team led by Anna Grannes (Operation Services) researched root causes and solutions to streamline training project requests. An improvement is now being piloted: to learn more about working with Learning & Development on an eLearning Project, check out the new Training Project Services and Training Project Resources webpages.
The team led by Verónica Jaralambides (Parks and Trails) focused on visitor retention and cross-promotion of state parks and recreation areas through loyalty clubs. Jaralambides will deliver a presentation about this project for the online Annual Advanced Strategic Improvement Practices Conference in September.
“Teamwork is a big part of the continuous improvement process,” Jaralambides said. “All the tools that are part of the process make for some of the most successful and effective team meetings I’ve been part of!”
In Green Belt training, trainees learn the basics of strategic planning and analytics, how to develop a project objective, how to use data and analyze processes, how to conduct root cause analysis, how to develop, prioritize, select and test solutions, and how to create and implement standards and controls to sustain a new level of performance.
With this cohort, the DNR now has 43 employees who have been trained at the Green Belt level or higher. A roster of all trainees is available on the Continuous Improvement Intranet page.
Learn more about continuous improvement at DNR
For more information or consultation about process improvement or continuous improvement training, contact Laura Grunloh or Yengmy Thao, visit the DNR’s Continuous Improvement office Intranet page, or join “DNR_Continuous Improvement” on Microsoft Teams.
To join, open Microsoft Teams, navigate to your “Teams” menu on the left, click on "Join or create a Team" (at the bottom of the list of Teams you belong to), and type in the Team Code "m8xzy7f".
The DNR’s role in a drought
Minnesota has been dry lately — very dry in some places. Though there have been some bouts of rain here and there, it hasn’t been enough to keep drought conditions at bay.
As of the U.S. Drought Monitor for June 24, about 75 percent of Minnesota is experiencing moderate drought conditions, with patches of abnormally dry and severe drought conditions.
However, it’s typical for Minnesota to experience some degree of drought, with drought typically occurring somewhere in the state almost every year for at least a few weeks at a time. Most droughts are short-lived, but the drought in 1988 is considered the worst since the 1930s Dust Bowl.
“We are a long way from (1988),” DNR Climatologist Pete Boulay said.
The DNR’s role when it comes to droughts is varied, as droughts can affect agriculture, water resources, power supply, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, wildfire, tourism, recreation, human health, and many other actors. This includes working with water appropriation permit holders, warning about fire danger, implementing burning restrictions, and educating about water conservation.
If you want to help conserve water:
- Check with your local government to see if there are local restrictions or water bans.
- Cut grass to three or four inches high and water sparingly.
- Take shorter showers and aim for a shower length of three to five minutes.
- Turn water off while using shampoo, conditioner and body wash and turn it back on to rinse.
- Only wash your clothes when you can have full loads of laundry, and use cold water.
Conserving water can help alleviate the effects of droughts and water shortages, while helping aquifers, lakes, streams and wetlands where water levels have significantly declined.
For more information about how to conserve water, check out the DNR’s Water Conservation webpage.
High fire danger across Minnesota this holiday weekend
 Recent fire behavior activity near Big Fork, Minn. Credit Nate Haskins.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking people to use extreme caution with campfires and fireworks this holiday weekend due to expected statewide high fire danger.
Drought conditions continue to expand, and burning restrictions remain in effect for several north-central Minnesota counties. An unintentional spark in these dry conditions could ignite a wildfire.
Casey McCoy, fire prevention supervisor, warned “All of Minnesota is abnormally dry or in a stage of drought. With trees, grasses and shrubs dried out, it’s easy for a spark to quickly become a wildfire.”
McCoy urged celebrations that don’t include fireworks, while offering a reminder that fireworks are not allowed in any state park, state forest or other DNR-administered lands.
Read more.
Operation Dry Water on tap July 2-4
 On the day before the kickoff of Operation Dry Water, the DNR and its law enforcement partners including the Minnesota State Patrol, National Park Service,
and Hennepin and Washington counties, held a media event on Lake Minnetonka
to explain the campaign. Lt. Adam Block, boating law administrator for the DNR Enforcement Division, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson spoke at the event.
DNR conservation officers and their law enforcement partners throughout the state and nation will ramp up patrols aimed at keeping waterways safe from impaired boaters over the Fourth of July weekend.
The heightened enforcement is part of Operation Dry Water, a nationwide campaign aimed at highlighting the dangers of boating under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Operation Dry Water, which occurs this year from July 2-4, also calls attention to the heavy penalties associated with boating while intoxicated.
While the financial toll can be high and include people losing their boats and their ability to operate motor vehicles, that pales in comparison to people losing their lives – or taking someone else’s life – because of their choice to drink and operate a boat. In 2020, nine of the 16 boating fatalities involved alcohol – a percentage (56%) that’s well above the six-year average of 44%.
A fitting recognition as an illustrious career draws to a close
 John Heineman (right) with Capt. Chris Lofstuen, Chief Enforcement pilot (left), and Natural Resources pilot Brad Maas after the Federal Aviation Administration presented him with its Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.
Longtime DNR employee, Natural Resources Pilot John Heineman set to retire as of July 6
As John Heineman caps off a DNR career that’s spanned 45 years (Division of Forestry from 1976 to 2002 and Division of Enforcement from 2002 until his retirement), he’s also been recognized for his pristine safety record in the sky.
The Federal Aviation Administration recently presented Heineman with its Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, (pictured on right) which according to the plaque, recognizes “your 50 years of exemplary aviation flight experience, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment to aviation safety.”
Heineman was primarily a district forester from 1976 to 2002, but also served as a standby pilot for the Enforcement Division from 1996 to 2002.
That year, he joined the Enforcement Division and became its first full-time natural resources pilot.
As part of his job with the Enforcement Aviation Unit, Heineman worked with other divisions across the agency on projects that had an aerial component, such as wolf telemetry. Heineman, who spent 26 years flying extensively for the Minnesota National Guard, has been a pilot since he was in high school.
As Heineman “flies off” into retirement, we as an agency wish him the best and thank him for his long-term dedication to serving Minnesota’s people and its natural resources
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Conservation officer helps release rehabilitated bald eagles back into wild
 DNR Conservation Officer Lt. Robert Gorecki releasing a juvenile bald eagle.
DNR Conservation Officer Lt. Robert Gorecki, along with staff from Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation in Garrison and members of the Donahue family, on Friday released back into the wild one juvenile and two adult bald eagles.
The adult eagles were on the ground – likely injured by another animal and unable to fly – when Gorecki captured them on June 21 and brought them to the Garrison Animal Hospital.
In the immediate area of the adult eagles was a nest that contained a juvenile bald eagle, which wasn’t yet old enough to fly. The next day, an individual from Bollig Tree Service climbed the 55-foot white pine and retrieved the juvenile eagle, which also was brought to the Garrison Animal Hospital.
The three eagles have been fully rehabilitated and are ready to live again in the wild. They were released near the site of their nest on Clear Lake in Aitkin County.
Katie Smith - New EWR Division director
 (L-R) Katie Smith and husband Jeff hiking and camping on the North Shore.
By Greg Husak, information officer, Ecological and Water Resources Division
Katie Smith carried a lifelong passion for outdoor recreation and travel into 21 years in natural resources regulation at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. One might call her new role as Ecological and Water Resources Division director a natural fit.One of the newest DNR employees has one of the longest commitments to Minnesota’s natural resources.
“I'm a lifelong Minnesotan, from the Twin Cities area, and was fortunate to grow up with a cabin. That's where I developed my love for outdoor recreation and a deeper appreciation of our natural resources. And that led me to my degree in natural resources and environmental studies from the U of M.
At MPCA, I frequently interacted with the DNR on enforcement matters, mining work, the St. Louis River Area of Concern, watershed work and the Get the Lead Out program related to the BP oil spill. I'm thrilled to be at the DNR, because I really feel the mission and values of the agency and the division closely align with who I am both professionally and personally.”
“I've spent the past seven weeks listening and learning from staff and leaders. Everyone's been so welcoming and has shared so much about our work. So I'm really excited and invigorated by everything I hear, whether that's challenges we need to tackle, opportunities for collaboration or successes that we can continue to build upon.
"And I feel very fortunate to be joining a team that has so much experience and dedication and passion. I’m starting to get out and see the work on the ground. This week I'll be participating in the Dakota skipper release out in Lake Benton, accompany an aquatic invasive species management program crew on a vegetation survey on a Ramsey County lake and visit an SNA in the Cottage Grove area.”
Katie enjoys sharing stories about outdoor recreation and travel and hearing from others about both professional and personal interests.
“I like to stay active, get outdoors as much as possible and explore. My husband and I live on a small lake in Little Canada, so we're often out on the pontoon fishing in the evenings. Early Saturday mornings, I can be found running on the Gateway Trail putting in some miles for an upcoming distance event.
"I love to travel, whether that's camping in a state park, hiking in a national park, canoeing in the BWCA, skiing out west or learning about diverse cultures overseas. And I just want to say to anyone reading this, whether you want to talk work or hobbies, please reach out, I'd love to meet you.”
Katie said she is excited about the EWR Strategic Plan and finding ways to align stakeholder concerns with the division’s strategic goals.
“I've had the opportunity to interact already with groups like the Natural Heritage Advisory Committee, an invasive carp forum, various legislators and permittees and residents who have concerns about what's happening in our state.
"To make good decisions, it's important for us to be inclusive of all of these voices throughout Minnesota, really hearing from them and considering their input, when we’re creating a vision or tackling an issue together. I look forward to continuing to meet with them and to work with everyone here to ensure we're taking the right steps to move those forward.”
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 Name: Katie Smith
Title: Director, Ecological and Water Resources Division
Joined the DNR: May 2021
Work location (after telework ends): Central Office
Education: Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from the University of Minnesota, with an emphasis on environmental issues and planning.
Fun fact: A favorite trip to South America combined a week on a boat in the Galapagos Islands with hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Magical morning
 Early morning on a suburban Twin Cities lake.
- Steve Carroll
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