Minnesota DNR announces $35 million boating access investment
Mar. 15—ST. PAUL — Two boat landings that provide access to Lake of the Woods are among more than 40 public water access sites across the state that will get extensive upgrades as part of the Get Out MORE — Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences — initiative approved by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023 and signed by Gov. Tim Walz.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural resources, the Ka Ka Geesik landing near the mouth of the Warroad River and the Wheelers Point access on the Rainy River north of Baudette, Minnesota, both are in line for improvements as part of the $35 million portion of the MORE initiative dedicated to boating access. Smaller-scale improvements to more than 75 additional access, including the Kuttes Landing on the Rainy River near the mouth of the Little Fork River, also are anticipated.
Other northwest Minnesota accesses in line for improvements include boat landings on Tulaby Lake, Bad Medicine Lake and the U.S. Highway 2 boat ramp near Cass Lake. A map and list of the major project sites can be found on the "modernizing boating access" segment of the
Get Out MORE webpage of the DNR website
at
mndnr.gov/aboutdnr/get-out-more.
"Time on the water is a cherished activity for so many Minnesotans and visitors to our state, and we take pride that Minnesota DNR is a leader in providing access to those waters," DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen said in a statement. "We also know that our public water accesses need significant investment. I'm excited for Minnesotans to start seeing upgrades in the coming months and years as a result of these investments and our commitment to ensuring people of all abilities and interests can enjoy our waters."
The DNR manages about 1,700 public water accesses and typically has enough funding to complete large-scale upgrades to only a few sites each year. However, many of the state's public accesses currently do not meet the needs of today's users. The Get Out MORE initiative is providing a significant boost in the DNR's ability to address these needs, the agency said, and will be coordinated with ongoing baseline investments to ensure the efficient use of all funds. Of the $149.9 million Get Out MORE investments, $35 million will go toward modernizing boating access, including:
* $30 million for large-scale projects, which will include accessible features, stormwater improvements, enhanced facilities for aquatic invasive species prevention, restoration to improve shoreline health and accessible ramps for non-motorized boats.
* $5 million for small-scale projects, including longer launch ramps, wider drive lanes, wider and longer parking stalls and improved stormwater treatment.
"We're making critical investments throughout Minnesota," Ann Pierce, Parks and Trails Division director, said in a statement. "These projects are essential to making Minnesota waters accessible to all users, meeting the needs of modern watercraft, protecting our public waters from stormwater runoff and invasive species and enhancing climate resilience."
The historic, one-time Get Out MORE investments center on five key areas:
* Enhancing fisheries and fishing infrastructure, $60 million.
* Enhancing access and welcoming new users to public lands and outdoor recreation facilities, $35.4 million.
* Modernizing boating access, $35 million.
* Restoring streams and modernizing water-related infrastructure to support outdoor recreation, $10 million.
* Modernizing camping and related infrastructure, $9.5 million.
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