11-01-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Ecological and Water Resources 500 Lafayette Road Box 25 St Paul, MN 55155 4025 October 21, 2021 Lino Lakes Sarah Cotton 600 Town Center Pkwy Lino Lakes, MN 55038 Re: Residential Irrigation Ban at White Bear Lake Trigger Elevation of 923.5 feet (MSL 1912) Permit No 1985 6168 Dear Sarah Cotton: On August 30, 2017, the Ramsey County District Court issued a ruling requiring the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to amend all water appropriation permits within five miles of White Bear Lake to include a residential irrigation ban when the lake level reaches a trigger elevation of 923.5 feet (MSL 1912). In March 2018, the DNR amended the above reference permit(s) to require you to institute a residential irrigation ban when DNR notifies you that the elevation of White Bear Lake has dropped below 923.5 feet (MSL 1912). The DNR recognizes that you have requested a contested case hearing, and that while the contested case is pending, this permit condition is not in effect. Minnesota has, however, been experiencing extensive drought conditions across the state, including within the five mile radius of White Bear Lake. Non essential water uses, such as residential irrigation will leave less water to support domestic water supply and other higher priority water uses, as well as aquatic ecosystems and recreation. Thus, even though you are not currently required to implement the residential irrigation ban, the DNR is requesting, as a matter of comity, that you voluntarily implement this ban now that the lake elevation has dropped below 923.5 feet (MSL 1912) and leave it in place until the DNR notifies you that the lake elevation has rebounded to 924 feet (MSL 1912). Should you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact me at (651) 259 5156 or randall.doneen@state.mn.us . Sincerely Randall Doneen Manager Conservation Assistance and Regulation Division Ecological and Water Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources