DOI Quick Facts

Current as of February 29, 2004
This page will be updated quarterly.

To view DOI Quick Facts as a single web page with fewer graphics, click here.

To view tables with numeric data for the Department and each bureau, click here.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the nation’s principal conservation agency. Our mission is to protect America’s treasures for future generations, provide access to our nation’s natural and cultural heritage, offer recreation opportunities, honor our trust responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives and our responsibilities to island communities, conduct scientific research, provide wise stewardship of energy and mineral resources, foster sound use of land and water resources, and conserve and protect fish and wildlife. The work that we do affects the lives of millions of people; from the family taking a vacation in one of our national parks to the children studying in one of our Indian schools.

Interior is a large, decentralized agency with over 78,315 employees and 183,000 volunteers located at approximately 2,400 operating locations across the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and freely associated states. We discharge our responsibilities on a $14 billion total annual budget. DOI raises more than $9 billion in revenues collected from energy, mineral, grazing, timber, recreation, land sales, etc.

Since Congress created the Department of the Interior in 1849, it has become the steward for:

Land

DOI manages 507 million acres of surface land, or about one-fifth of the land in the United States, including:

262 million acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management    96 million acres managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service    84.4 million acres managed by the National Park Service    8.7 million acres managed by the Bureau of Reclamation associated with reclamation projects    55.7 million acres managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Over 180,000 acres of abandoned coal mine sites have been reclaimed through the Office of Surface Mining's Abandoned Mine Land Program.

Water

DOI has responsibility for managing a variety of water and underwater resources.  The Bureau of Reclamation manages 476 dams and 348 reservoirs that deliver irrigation water to one of every five western farmers and provide water for 31 million people. The Minerals Management Service has jurisdiction over approximately 1.76 billion acres of the Outer Continental Shelf, on which it manages about 7,300 active oil and gas leases on 42 million acres.  The U.S. Geological Survey conducts groundwater and surface water studies with offices in all 50 states.

Recreation and Cultural Opportunities

66.6 million visits to 3,300 recreational sites provided by the Bureau of Land Management    279 million visits to 388 units, including parks, monuments, seashore sites, battlefields and other cultural and recreational sites provided by National Park Service    39 million visits to 544 wildlife refuges provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service    90 million visits to 308 recreation sites provided by the Bureau of Reclamation    For more information on camping, fishing, archeology, bird watching and other recreational opportunities on Interior and other Federal lands, go to recreation.gov

Native American Lands and Needs

55.7 million acres of land belong to Indian tribes and individuals    The Bureau of Indian Affairs provides education services to 47,671 Indian children in 184 schools and dormitories    The Bureau manages relationships with 562 Indian tribes

U.S. Energy Needs

Energy projects on federally managed lands and offshore areas supply about 28 percent of the nation’s energy production. This includes:

34.5% of natural gas    34.7% of oil    42% of coal    17% of hydro power    48% of geothermal

Scientific Research

The U.S. Geological Survey scientists:

Monitor, analyze, interpret, and disseminate information on earthquakes, volcanoes, and the geology and topography of the United States.    Monitor and assess water quality, streamflows and ground water at thousands of sites across the nation    Produce more than 100,000 different maps    Estimate world and United States energy and mineral supplies    Conduct a wide range of research on biology, geology, and water to provide land and resource managers with the information they need to make sound decisions, and to help mitigate the effects of natural hazards

Fish and Wildlife

The Department seeks to work with others to conserve, manage, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of all Americans. DOI is responsible for:

Improving habitats for migratory birds, certain marine animals, freshwater and anadromous fish, as well as providing public enjoyment of these resources    Protecting 1,848 endangered or threatened species, 1,258 are U.S.    Preventing and controlling invasive species

For more Quick Facts about the Department: 

Physical inventory of DOI facilities and resources    DOI organization chart and descriptions (with Bureau Quick Facts)

 

For further information, visit the following DOI web sites:    Department of Interior Home Page   Office of Budget   Office of Planning and Performance Management   Office of Financial Management

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