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3.7. Groundwater Resources The City is located over very substantial ground water reserves. The major aquifers include: glacial sand and gravel, the Prairie-du-Chien/Jordan aquifer, and the Mt. Simon -Hinckley aquifer. The Prairie-du- Chien/Jordan aquifer supplies much of the ground water pumped in the Twin City metropolitan area, while the Mt. Simon -Hinckley aquifer provides a smaller portion. Bedrock ground water in the northern portion of the Watershed District generally flows toward the west; in the southern portion, the ground water flows to the southwest. Ground water recharge areas are not well known in the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). Glacial sand and gravel aquifers are generally recharged locally. The Mt. Simon -Hinckley aquifer is recharged outside the watershed. It has generally been documented that the Prairie -du -Chien aquifer does recharge within the watershed. Additional information on groundwater resources is available for Anoka County in their Water Resources Management Report (2009). In addition, the Department of Natural Resources' Minnesota Geologic Survey prepared a Regional Hydrogeologic Assessment for the Anoka Sandplain (1993), an area which includes Lino Lakes, and is working on an Anoka County Geologic Atlas. In 2009 the RCWD completed a Groundwater Planning & Management Program; the report identifies information such as groundwater contours, recharge and discharge areas, groundwater dependent natural resources, and areas where infiltration is not recommended. The report indicates that groundwater flows from the southeast and northwest toward the lakes in the center of the City (Figure 7) and similarly that the Chain of Lakes are groundwater discharge points with surrounding areas of recharge (Figure 8). The identified groundwater dependent natural resources include areas around Rondeau and Peltier Lakes (Figure 9). In addition, a few locations within Lino Lakes are identified as areas where infiltration is not recommended unless precautions are taken to protect the City's drinking water supply. These areas are located around public well fields. The City's Wellhead Protection Plan includes Wellhead Protection Areas, Drinking Water Supply Management Areas, a Vulnerability Assessment, Potential Contaminant Source Management Strategy, an Evaluation Program and an Alternative Water Supply/Contingency Plan. The Drinking Water Supply Management Area includes guidelines related to stormwater infiltration. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has an active ground water monitoring system in and near the City. The purpose of the MPCA monitoring program is to characterize the physical, chemical, bacteriological, and organic properties of each water source. Data is available to the public through the MPCA's Environmental Data Access system. The Metropolitan Council Water Supply Plan (2010) indicates that with expected population growth, the aquifers in the Twin Cities metropolitan area will show lower aquifer water levels, but will still have the water supply and recharge capability needed to meet expected water uses. The model completed for the study indicates that aquifer water levels may decrease by about 100 feet in outer ring suburbs, especially in the south metro. The Anoka County Water Resources Management Report (2009) summarizes a 2007 Metropolitan Council report and indicates that surface water features in Anoka County are more likely to be impacted by groundwater drawdown than in other areas. City of Lino Lakes SWMP 1 December 2015119