(Des Moines)– Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Richard Leopold is resigning to take a job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Minnesota.
Leopold will become the Midwest Assistant Regional Director for Science Applications, with a tentative start date of September 12th. He had been state DNR Director since January 2007.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius says Leopold’s background with conservation agencies and non-government groups made him right for the job.
Leopold says he’s been negotiating with federal officials for eight months.
His departure got mixed reviews, with the Nature Conservancy praising him but Senator Dennis Black of Lynnville saying Leopold didn’t reach out enough to farm groups or the legislature.
Greg Drees, a DNR commissioner from Arnolds Park, tells KUOO news he was just as surprised as anyone else upon learning of Leopold’s resignation. Drees says Leopold was able to accomplish a lot during his stint as DNR Director, calling him a “good leader”.
Drees says having Leopold as DNR director was important for the Iowa Great Lakes, as he was already familiar with the various issues and nuances of the area, after having served previously as Dickinson County Naturalist.
Drees says Leopold called him shortly before the announcement was made public.
