DNR needs nearly $150 million annually over next decade for asset preservation

The Department of Natural Resources will need more than $145 million each year for the next decade to bring the capital assets it maintains up to average or better condition.

That was one of the key points delivered Thursday by Commissioner Tom Landwehr to the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee during an overview of his agency.

Landwehr told members the DNR faces a deferred maintenance backlog of $342.2 million on its capital assets, which are defined as anything built on DNR land with a minimum 20-year lifecycle. He said the agency was in “a very bad place” with the upkeep needed to care for the 2,714 buildings, hundreds of bridges and miles of trails it maintains.

Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) said money for capital asset preservation had been included in last year’s bonding bill that was “torpedoed” by the Senate.

WATCH Full video of Thursday's meeting

Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) suggested money from the General Fund could “chew away” at the ongoing problem more effectively because, unlike a bonding bill, a “super majority” would not be needed to approve funding.

Hansen said things such as broken toilets deter people from getting out and using DNR lands and facilities.

“Everybody has big projects, but it’s these little things that matter,” Hansen said.