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DNR seeks sustainable funding for parks and details climate grants, marina management and species concerns
Summary
The Department of Natural Resources told lawmakers it will expand park reservation pilots, pursue affiliated foundations and use federal climate grants for land restoration, while flagging ongoing challenges: Summers Cove Marina losses, oyster market collapse, and concerns about blue crab and striped bass populations.
The Department of Natural Resources outlined a multi-part FY27 agenda to shore up park operations, advance restoration projects and scale climate-focused investments. Secretary Josh Kurtz told the subcommittee DNR will expand a successful day-use reservation pilot to 15 additional park sites this year to reduce capacity closures, improve safety and increase fee collection.
Kurtz described several new or expanded park openings (Catoctin Furnace Cemetery management, Tippin Creek State Park with a donor endowment, Friedman State Historical Park, Savage Highland State Park glamping and Wills Mountain State Park for rock-climbing recreation). He said DNR will pursue affiliated foundations modeled on university foundations to raise operating funds and brand parks to increase nonstate revenue streams.
DLS highlighted fisheries concerns: while blue crab female numbers have risen under current management, overall abundance including males and juveniles has declined and the agency is completing a peer-reviewed stock assessment in April. Kurtz said the assessment will include new benchmarks beyond female counts and that Maryland and Virginia have different harvest patterns with implications for markets and fishery management.
DNR also discussed climate pollution reduction grant funds (roughly $42.5 million to DNR over five years through a multistate award) intended to deliver afforestation, improved forest management, wetlands restoration, living shorelines and private-land resilience plans. Kurtz provided targets tied to Chesapeake Bay agreement metrics and said the program will be completed by August 2029.
On Summers Cove Marina, Kurtz said the state will operate the marina for one year while it assesses fee structures and options; the marina had prior write-offs and is expected to operate at a loss in the near term while capital repairs (bulkhead work) proceed. Committee members asked about long-term park operating funding and the sustainability of using program open-space balances; DNR reiterated plans for diversified revenue, cost recovery pilots and centralized capital-prioritization to avoid ad-hoc expense spikes.
Public witnesses representing conservation and parks groups urged continued full funding of program open space and support for DNR staffing increases and volunteer coordination.
