DNR asks for $30M for asset preservation; proposal also includes dam safety, flood mitigation and accessibility funding

Commissioner Sarah Stroman of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources told the Senate Capital Investment Committee on March 5 that the governor’s 2026 capital proposal centers on taking care of existing assets and addressing a growing deferred-maintenance backlog.

Stroman said the DNR manages extensive and geographically dispersed assets—“2,800 buildings with 30,000 building components” and five‑and‑a‑half million acres of public land—resulting in a large replacement value and a backlog that asset-preservation appropriations have not kept pace with. She said DNR’s top request is $30,000,000 for Natural Resources Asset Preservation (NRAP) to repair, renovate, or replace degraded infrastructure.

In addition to NRAP, Stroman outlined other elements of the governor’s proposal: $3,000,000 for betterment of buildings (with the full $3M prioritized for predesign and design of a new St. Paul fish hatchery), $2,000,000 for acquisition and reforestation on public lands, $10,000,000 recommended for dam safety projects (the top priority listed is Rapidan Dam removal), $9,000,000 for competitive flood-hazard-mitigation grants (she said there are roughly $213,000,000 in project applications), $2,000,000 for statewide accessibility improvements at parks and public lands, and $1,000,000 for local and regional grant programs.

Stroman highlighted specific examples to illustrate need: a footbridge in the RJ Dorr State Forest closed because abutments are failing, a septic-field replacement that enabled Forestville campground to operate, and a cold-storage pole barn at Lac Qui Parle Wildlife Management Area that had to be replaced after storm damage.

Committee members praised DNR’s work for tourism and outdoor recreation and asked about project priorities and sites such as a proposed new Saint Paul fish hatchery; Stroman said a feasibility study will inform siting and cost and that predesign and design work are being prioritized in the betterment request.

Stroman said the DNR is emphasizing accessibility, energy efficiency, climate resiliency and asset management strategies (including leasing or divestment in limited circumstances) to manage the portfolio more sustainably. The committee did not take a formal vote at the hearing; members encouraged continued investment to protect outdoor recreation and public safety.