More changes coming to DNR fisheries management staff near the North Shore

Dean Paron, the longtime Finland area fisheries supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, is leaving his post along the Baptism River.

And while change is occurring, Paron is staying with the state agency and will continue working on Minnesota rivers. He’ll be overseeing habitat work on all rivers and streams in Minnesota as part of his new role with the DNR. Paron will work out of the DNR’s office in Duluth in his new position with the agency.

The news of Paron leaving the Finland office follows recent news from the Grand Marais fisheries office for the DNR specific to changes in leadership. Cook County resident EJ Isaac was hired in late April to be the next fisheries supervisor for the DNR at the agency’s Grand Marais office.

During his time working at the Finland fisheries management office for the DNR, Paron led numerous trout stream restoration projects. The research and projects focused, at least in part, in how the Lake County streams that flow into Lake Superior are being impacted by climate change. Other work Paron played a role in from the Finland office, including along tributaries to the Baptism River, involves the issue of “connectivity” by removing or improving barriers such as old or impassible culverts that kept fish from reaching cool pockets of water.

Learn all about the changes happening at the Finland DNR fisheries office in the most recent episode of the WTIP Outdoor News Podcast. Audio below.

Also featured is an update with Cory Goldsworthy, the DNR Lake Superior area fisheries supervisor, discussing the 2023 steelhead run on rivers along the North Shore.

Joe Friedrichs June 11, 2023