Dr. Daniel Clark has been appointed as the new Regional Director for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Quabbin/Ware Watershed Region. Dan received his first graduate’s in the Coop. Unit’s Graduate Program for Working
Professionals. He is currently the Director of Natural Resources for DCR and will begin his new responsibilities as Regional Director this month.
Dan started with DCR 22 years ago as a Conservation Biologist in the Natural Resources unit. He was promoted to Environmental Analyst several years later and worked in all four watersheds on biological surveys and management plans. Since 2007, Dan has served as Director of Natural Resources, leading a team of wildlife biologists, regional planners, and foresters focused on the Division of Water Supply Protection’s land acquisition, land stewardship, forest management, and wildlife management programs. During that time period Dan was the 2012 DCR nominee for the Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service for his innovative research on gull ecology in relation to reservoir water quality, which was also the topic of his dissertation. Dan has played an integral role in implementing the Quabbin Deer Hunt, spearheaded the completion of the 2017 Comprehensive Land Management Plan, significantly improved the gull management program at both the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs, and brought new technology to the Division’s field work.
Dan has a B.S. from UMass-Amherst, an M.S. Degree from University of Missouri-Columbia, and his Ph.D. from UMass-Amherst, all in Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management.