HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 04-21 Minnesota: Working on water for White Bear Lake: Pioneer Press Editorial PIONEER PRESS Minnesota: Working on water for White Bear Lake: Pioneer
Press editorial
Pioneer Press Twin Cities.corn-Pioneer Press
Posted: APR 2 1 2014 TwinCities.com
Folks in White Bear Lake see more than a steady drop in the level of their town's namesake
body of water. They see a threat to their community's vitality and future economic
development.
The search for solutions for their lake, the east metro's largest -- and what some consider a
bellwether of the region's water challenges -- is part of a bigger effort to understand what's
happening and why.
White Bear Lake water levels are a symptom of a broader problem, "the sustainability of the
water supplies in the area," said Ali Elhassan, water supply planning manager at the
Metropolitan Council.
Studies point to increased groundwater pumping of below-the-surface waters and
consequent depletion of the aquifer on which much of the region depends for its water.
"You start pumping a lot, you start impacting the lake levels," Elhassan told us, noting that
other metro communities, too, are dealing with an increased, and unsustainable, reliance on
groundwater-- rather than such surface- or above-ground sources as lakes and rivers.
East metro lawmakers are among those taking the threat seriously.
Sen. Charles Wiger and Rep. Peter Fischer, Democrats from Maplewood, are advocating
funding for an engineering study of the feasibility of"augmentation" of White Bear Lake to
help increase its level after nearly a decade of decline.
The measure -- in a supplemental spending bill to be considered by a conference committee
after legislators return this week from their Easter/Passover break -- includes $800,000 to
examine the option, including design, regulatory issues and other factors. Wiger is a
member of the conference committee.
It's one of many potential responses, Wiger told us, from conservation measures to changes
in groundwater management to creating a new Legislative Water Commission. He
advocates return of the commission, "sunsetted" in the '90s, because "recent water issues in
the east metro and across the state demonstrate the need for better oversight and efficient
management."
Advocates "aren't saying augmentation is a prescription," he said. "They are saying, 'Let's
get the facts.' "
What's needed, Wiger believes, is a clear, objective analysis of whether augmentation is
feasible. "We need to know with certainty," he said, before decisions are made on other
options.
The request is"not duplicative"of other efforts,said Michael Balaen of the St.Paul Area
Chamber of Commerce,an advocate of the measure."The appropriation will allow us to
build on work being done so we can further understand the feasibility of augmenting White
Bear Lake."
Studies are under way,and there are differing points of view on augmentation,Wiger
acknowledges."It's not the silver bullet,but could it be a part of the long-term strategy?Let's
look at it."
Studies include work by the Metropolitan Council--a draft is due in June,with a final report
in the fall--that considers three approaches:augmentation,connection to the St.Paul water
system and creation of a new system for northeast communities that would treat surface
water and use it in lieu of pumping ground-water.
"In the end,we might implement more than one of them,"Elhassan said,but at this point,it's
not certain.
Other points of view include those of Rep.Jean Wagenius,a Minneapolis Democrat and
chair of the House Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance Committee.
"The question here is should we go ahead with engineering by a firm that thinks it can get
the water out and put it into the lake cheaper than the Metropolitan Council thinks is
possible?"
"There are huge questions here,"Wagenius said.Among them:"Does it work?"
She notes that years ago,White Bear Lake received"supplemental water."Now,however,
with groundwater depleted under the lake,the situation is"very different."
According to James Stark,director of the U.S.Geological Survey's Minnesota Water
Science Center,groundwater was pumped into White Bear Lake and several others in
Ramsey County from the end of Dust Bowl-era in the 1930s to about the 1970s.The
pumping was stopped by an act of the Legislature when the practice was deemed a low
priority for water use.
From whatever viewpoint,work on water matters in Minnesota,the state that in 2008 voted
for a tax increase--the Legacy Amendment--on the strength of an appeal for the value of
our liquid resources.
Those in White Bear Lake feel a sense of urgency about their water-work."This is one of the
premiere lakes in the region,and it's in crisis,"Wiger said."We could wait,but at what
price?"
We can't take water for granted,he said.On that,we can all agree.
APR 21 2014