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DNR seeks $96 million in 2025 bonding for preservation, betterment and community projects
Summary
The Department of Natural Resources told the Capital Investment Committee it is seeking roughly $96 million in 2025 bonding to address deferred maintenance, add storage at the Hibbing Drill Core Library, expand the state forest nursery, improve accessibility and fund dam safety and flood mitigation grants.
The Department of Natural Resources asked the Capital Investment Committee on Feb. 13 for $96.1 million in bonding authority to address deferred maintenance and targeted construction across state parks, forests and DNR facilities.
DNR capital asset manager Samantha Minkler told the committee that “the DNR manages and maintains public land and infrastructure on behalf of Minnesotans, providing countless benefits to our state,” and outlined a request that puts asset preservation first. The department asked for $61,000,000 in natural resources asset preservation funding and $11,100,000 for a betterment-of-buildings program, which the DNR said would finance projects including a new storage and examination building at the Hibbing Drill Core Library.
The DNR described the scale of its holdings — roughly 5.6 million acres — and the aging condition of its building stock: nearly one in four buildings are in “unacceptable or poor” condition, and about one in three buildings are more than 80 years old, according to the agency’s presentation.
Other items in the request included $6,500,000 for acquisition and betterment of public lands (reforestation and strategic land acquisitions), $1,900,000 for accessibility improvements at parks and wildlife areas, $10,000,000 for the dam safety grant program, $5,600,000 for the flood hazard mitigation grant program, and $1,900,000 for the parks-and-trails local and regional grant program. Minkler said the request also funds “design factors such as accessibility, energy efficiency, and climate resiliency.”
On specific projects, lawmakers pressed the agency about the Hibbing Drill Core Library. Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer described the site as “a geologist’s dream come true,” noting an emergency $1,000,000 appropriation had stabilized shelving and that the DNR has design documents ready for construction of additional storage once funding is available. Minkler said the drill core project “is designed and complete and ready for bidding” but requires construction funding.
Members asked about recent flood and trail damage, and Meyer said DNR operations prioritized life-safety and access during last summer’s floods then sought FEMA reimbursement. On tree nursery and reforestation work, Minkler said the DNR seeks funds to modernize the state forest nursery and to construct a plug-seedling facility; she said the agency grows some stock internally and also purchases material from out of state.
The agency said betterment funding complements preservation dollars by allowing substantial improvements and additions (for example, visitor centers, camper cabins and shower buildings) beyond repair work. The DNR emphasized that regular capital investment is needed to reduce a growing deferred-maintenance backlog and to keep assets safe and accessible.
The committee did not take a vote on the DNR request at the hearing; members asked for follow-up materials including facility plans and the agency’s priority lists.
