White Bear Lake - Water Levels

[wyatt]

Apologies if this is old news, but I just ran across this through my day job...

Ever wonder why White Bear Lake water levels have been so low lately? Sounds like they figured it out - the presentation really gets in depth with the analysis:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/displa ... bear-lake/
http://mn.water.usgs.gov/projects/pdf/W ... 212012.pdf

[Dave Z]

Nice summary. All the development/growth in Hugo

[Mike W]

Thanks for posting that, Wyatt! Very informative.

[wyatt]

The report notes that the groundwater depletion increases dramatically in the summer, and it's not because people are thirsty. A city council friend of mine (in an unnamed metro city) told me that city water use increases 30% in her city in the summer. That's the price of a green lawn.

Just FYI - cities don't have much incentive to clamp down on water use given that it's a money-maker for them. Groundwater plans are done at the county level and usually don't get much attention from anyone. Then again, there are lots of county commissioners up for reelection this year...

[Kevinousdigian]

So what's the word as to what the 'fix' will be? I'm sure it will take years of wrangling and lawsuits...
I actually like it lower for kiting so we have more place to rig.
The one downside is that on a windy SE day like today there isn't as much swell or chop coming into ramsey beach because of the rock island. >5 years ago it's be real sweet.
KO