These projects are fully funded by the Get Out MORE (Modernizing our Outdoor Recreation Experiences) initiative, which invests $110 million in Minnesota’s recreation infrastructure. These investments are one-time in nature.
The Get Out More funding is part of the DNRs General Fund. Per, the MN DNR’s biannual budget, “Our FY24-25 General Fund budget is $604.3 million, which is less than 1% of the total General Fund spending for the state” (pg. 1, DNR Biennial Budget).
The DNR recently released a 2024 Progress Report on Get Out MORE funding that includes projects (pages 42-44).
The projects were scored through the DNR’s Stream Restoration Priority List, which looks at several criteria including project type, resource potential, scale of impact, critical habitat and biodiversity, timing, technical feasibility, and community support. The Crissy Lake Dam, Perkins Lake Dam, and Pomme de Terre Lake Dam project scored high enough to meet the criteria for the Get Out MORE funding. Funding became available in 2024.
