Move over, Hawaii, Australia, and Southern California: The go-to destination for surfers will soon be Anoka, Minnesota. That’s the dream of Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) as he diverted $6.2 million in funding meant for road projects in Anoka County to pay for the next phase of the Rum River Dam overhaul. The total project will eventually cost $51 million and will include improvements to the dam, a new pedestrian bridge, and recreational amenities that will make Anoka the first river surfing destination in Minnesota. Surf’s up, dude!
The Golden Turkey Committee was stoked when we heard Anoka County was suing the state to block funding for the project in their own backyard. The county called it a “dubious boondoggle” in their complaint in district court. Righteous!
The project began with a “small” $500,000 planning grant in 2023 (don’t they all?). After it was removed from the list of projects funded with general fund dollars in the 2025 Transportation Bill, Democratic Leader Stephenson made the aggro move of changing the funding source during backroom negotiations with the Senate and Governor Tim Walz (what a kook!). Republicans objected and even offered an amendment to remove funding for the project from the transportation bill. Republican Leader Harry Niska called it a pet project of Stephenson’s, said it was a waste of money, and pointed out Anoka County didn’t even want it in the first place. The amendment to remove the funding failed as every Democratic member bailed and voted “no.”
So now the project is back on track and surfers in Minnesota are amped. But are they really? Will surfers and kayakers really flock to hang ten against the current of the mighty Rum River? With the weather in Minnesota, the surfing season will be limited to the months of July and August, unless all the surfers don wetsuits. These urban planners always write up the most optimistic scenarios with thousands of new tourists coming to town, renting equipment, and of course spending thousands of dollars at local restaurants and bars. The Rum River brochure says, “whitewater park venues have seen economic impacts as high as $9M per year.” We can’t leave that money on the table!
The Rum River surf project was jammed through the legislature in a backroom deal, is not wanted by Anoka County, and will eventually cost taxpayers $50 million with an ROI that relies on an unproven new surfer demographic in Minnesota. For all of these reasons, this dubious boondoggle is nominated for the 2025 Golden Turkey Award. Gnarly!
