Republicans have periodically tried to split DNR recreation programs away from its pollution-control functions, but they’ve fallen short, in part because two of the department’s main constituencies — outdoors clubs and environmental groups — have found a common cause in resisting.

“We all at some point have common interests in terms of the protection of the environment,” said George Meyer, a former DNR secretary who now directs the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. “Those who are not friends of conserving the environment want to split the department.”

The DNR fisheries program that stocks streams works best in close cooperation with the DNR offices that do research on aquatic life, protect shorelines, manage parks and recreation areas and regulate water pollution, Meyer said.

But the DNR breakup proposal would place fisheries in a new Department of Fish and Wildlife while water pollution regulation would be housed in a Department of Environmental Protection, and parks would go to the Department of Tourism, according to a Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection would get the DNR forestry division, which is aimed at sustainable logging practices that protect wildlife habitat, including aquatic life that is susceptible to erosion and runoff.