#13 - Water Appropriation Permit

Home Browse Search

places a high priority on using the $800 million settlement to “enhance the quality, quantity and sustainability of drinking water in the East Metropolitan Area” including the City of Lake Elmo. Thus the State in conjunction with the cities in the East Metropolitan Area, including the City of Lake Elmo, are exploring how to supply safe drinking water to the City in a manner that would allow growth while meeting the requirements of the 2017 Order. These discussions are on-going and a solution has yet to be identified. 11. In order to complete the individual and cumulative analysis of groundwater use as directed by the Court in the 2017 Order the DNR developed a state-of-the-science groundwater flow model using best available data. The DNR used this model to analyze the increased appropriation request and its potential impact on White Bear Lake. The DNR’s analysis indicates that water levels in White Bear Lake, under existing average groundwater use, would fall below the lake’s protective elevation in 6 of the last 15 years. This analysis assumed similar climatic conditions. The DNR’s analysis also showed that pumping larger volumes of water from the Prairie du Chien/Jordan aquifer would lead to incrementally lower water levels in White Bear Lake. 12. Approval of the requested increase in the authorized volume of DNR Water Appropriation Permit 1961-1031 to 540 million gallons has the potential to impact the Prairie du Chein aquifer and White Bear Lake. Additionally the appropriation would be within a 5-mile radius of White Bear Lake. Thus, issuing an amendment to DNR Water Appropriation Permit 1961-1031 increasing the authorized volume to 540 million gallons of water per year would be in violation of the 2017 Order. Conclusions 13. Authorizing the replacement of Installation No. 1 with Installation No. 5 does not violate the 2017 Order because it is not a new or increased appropriation. 14. Replacement of Installation No. 1 with Installation No. 5 will protect the public health and safety by allowing the City of Lake Elmo to stop pumping groundwater for public drinking water supply from a contaminated area and allow pumping from an area where the groundwater is not contaminated. 15. Authorizing and increase the City of Lake Elmo’s permitted appropriation from 260 million gallons a year to 540 million gallons of year has the potential to negatively impact that the elevation of White Bear Lake. Additionally said appropriation is prohibited by the 2017 Order. Order Based on the substantial evidence in the administrative record on file at the DNR and the 2017 Order it is hereby ordered as follows: 1. The City of Lake Elmo’s request to replace Installation No. 1 with Installation No. 5 to appropriate water for municipal water supply under Permit No. 1961-1031 is hereby GRANTED. 2. The City of Lake Elmo’s request to increase its permitted volume of water from 260 million gallons of water per year to 540 million gallons of water per year is