"We are just days away from closing out the old and bringing in the new year. Here at the Department of Natural Resources, we have many talented people leading the charge for a better, brighter, more secure future for our citizens.

Our goal for Year 2007 will be to enhance the usefulness of our natural resources, as well as to protect and preserve our valuable resources through the programs we operate and the projects that we build.

I intend to continue on a fast-track that includes a positive mind-set and a devotion to taking needed actions that strengthen our state's economic outlook while staying true to good stewardship practices."