03-14-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF LINO LAKES RESOLUTION NO.34 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE, SAFE, AND RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY WHEREAS, the City holds a water appropriation permit to draw water from the Prairie du Chien -Jordan Aquifer, which feeds into White Bear Lake, and this permit allows the City to provide safe water to its residents, businesses, schools, churches, hospitals, and government facilities; WHEREAS, on February 28, 2018, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources amended the City's water appropriation permit due to fluctuating lake levels on White Bear Lake and the resulting advocacy of homeowners on the lake who want sufficient lake levels for recreational activities; and WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ("DNR"), at the direction of a 2021 Ramsey County Court Order in Case File No: 62-CV-13-2414, filed a letter with the Court on February 7, 2022 illustrating its preparedness to limit the City's water appropriation permit to residential use only, and to limit use to 55 gallons of water per day per person on average, along with other municipalities within a 5 mile range of White Bear Lake in order to comply with the Court's Order; WHEREAS, such proposed restrictions on the City's water permit present a dire threat to safe and reliable water access for schools, hospitals, churches, new housing and commercial developments, and businesses and industries located within the City; WHEREAS, the DNR's potential permit amendments threaten the health, welfare, growth, and prosperity of the City, and surrounding communities, and is an untenable solution to shared use of the aquifer; WHEREAS, the issue of groundwater usage from the Prairie du Chien -Jordan Aquifer is a regional concern that involves a significant number of communities across three counties, including their residents, businesses, schools, hospitals, and numerous other public and private uses. WHEREAS, recognizing the importance of conservation and sustainability is best achieved through localized strategies; WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature is in a position to provide a legislative solution to groundwater permitting in the Prairie du Chien -Jordan Aquifer and reinforce the role of the DNR in engaging in water appropriation based on science and public health. 220775