DNR names agency veteran to run Minnesota parks and trails

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources veteran Erika Rivers will take over the DNR's Parks and Trails Division when its current director, Courtland Nelson, retires in April.

Rivers started her DNR career in northern Minnesota and has been an assistant commissioner for the agency for the last three years, the DNR said Monday. She will oversee a $103 million budget and a staff of 1,200 full and part-time employees.

Besides managing Minnesota's 76 state parks and recreation areas, the DNR's Parks and Trails Division is also in charge of thousands of miles of state trails and 1,500 public water access sites.