DNR asks lawmakers for $98 million in 2025 bonding to tackle deferred maintenance, fund drill core library and flood grants

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources asked the Capital Investment Committee on Feb. 13 for $98 million in the governor’s 2025 bonding proposal to address deferred maintenance, add capacity at the Hibbing Drill Core Library and fund local flood- and park-related grant programs.

Samantha Minkler, the DNR capital asset manager, presented the request with Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer. "The DNR manages and maintains public land and infrastructure on behalf of Minnesotans, providing countless benefits to our state," Minkler said as she outlined the agency’s asset portfolio and its capital priorities.

Minkler told the committee DNR’s request groups projects into asset preservation, building betterment, acquisition and betterment of public lands, accessibility improvements and community investments. The agency seeks $61,000,000 for asset preservation, $11,100,000 for building betterment (with the Hibbing Drill Core Library as the program's top priority), $6,500,000 for land acquisition and betterment, $1,900,000 for accessibility work, $10,000,000 for a dam safety grant program, $5,600,000 for a flood hazard mitigation grant program, and $1,900,000 for parks and trails local and regional grants.

Nut graf: The request is aimed at slowing a growing deferred-maintenance backlog that the DNR says has outpaced recent preservation appropriations. The agency said DNR-built assets have an estimated current replacement value of $3.5 billion, are spread across all 87 counties and about 5.6 million acres, and include facilities ranging from state park cabins to fish hatcheries and forest roads. "Regular and consistent capital investment funding is essential to the success of our asset management program and will help us tackle the backlog of deferred maintenance over the years to come," Minkler said.

Most important facts first: Minkler summarized the backlog and condition metrics the DNR is using to justify its request: nearly one in four DNR buildings is in "unacceptable or poor" condition, only about one in four meet current design standards (including accessibility), and nearly one in three buildings are more than 80 years old. Asset preservation funding would target building/site infrastructure, water/wastewater systems, roads, trails and bridges, public water accesses, camping infrastructure, fish hatcheries and water-control structures.

On the Hibbing Drill Core Library, Minkler said the project is "designed and complete and ready for bidding" but has not been fully funded. Commissioner Meyer and Representative Hansen recalled that the Legislature provided a $1,000,000 emergency appropriation to stabilize failing shelving; Meyer said that money paid for shelving stabilization but the expansion still needs construction funding. "We do have designs ready to go. It needs to be built, it needs to be expanded," Meyer said. Minkler told the committee the total building-betterment project will be slightly more than $11,100,000 and that the DNR would need the funding up front rather than in phases.

Committee members pressed agency staff about coordination with other funding sources and reimbursements after recent floods. When Representative Scrabble asked whether the DNR had sought federal disaster dollars for damaged trails and roads, Meyer said DNR field staff prioritized life-safety work during flood events and then pursued FEMA reimbursement afterward: "When it's life safety ... the money comes secondary. We go back and seek reimbursement from FEMA." Minkler said DNR is working with its disaster recovery program on FEMA reimbursements.

Accessibility and nursery projects: Minkler said the requested $1,900,000 for accessibility will fund projects that already have assessments and designs, but that a meaningful statewide push would require roughly $25,000,000 per bonding cycle. She also said the state forest nursery remains a priority; DNR previously received $10,000,000 in 2023 for phase 2 of a packing facility and seeks additional betterment funding for the final phase of expansion and modernization.

Community grant programs: The DNR asked for $10,000,000 for the dam safety grant program (to stabilize steep river banks and pay for dam recovery efforts), $5,600,000 for flood-hazard mitigation grants (cost-share grants to local governments) and $1,900,000 for parks and trails local and regional grants (competitive grants for acquisition and development). Minkler said those grant programs allow DNR to partner with local governments to develop parks and trails "close to home."

Discussion vs. decision: The committee took questions but took no formal votes on DNR’s capital request. Members sought additional project plans and drawings; the DNR offered to provide plans and designs for the Hibbing Drill Core Library and the State Forest Nursery to committee members.

Ending: DNR officials said the agency will reconvene with the committee and provide additional materials on project design, FEMA reimbursements and how legacy and other funds can be coordinated with bonding proceeds.