(LINO LAKES) – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources researchers released the findings of a study about the health of White Bear Lake in nearby Ramsey County this week after a county court ruled last year public and private wells linked to the lake should be subject to restrictions.
The ruling was in response to a suit from several groups after years of decaying and poor conditions on the lake. As a result, the courts decided all wells within a five-mile radius could be subject to watering and use restrictions. That includes wells within the southeastern-most limits of the City of Lino Lakes, which is very near the border of Ramsey and Anoka Counties.
For several years starting in the last decade, water levels on the hugely popular lake were extremely low and business and recreation interests in the city of White Bear Lake and surrounding community suffered. The lake has since rebounded.
The DNR study found that the lake levels and water conditions overall will continue to withstand the demands of the wells within that radius. It found that groundwater use around the lake and at least within the five-mile radius met state standards. This report came out ahead of DNR’s appeal of the Ramsey County court ruling. The state court of appeals could rule on that in early 2019.
Earlier this year, Lino Lakes city officials presented to city council about the decision to stand with other municipalities also impacted by any rulings to abide by a bill signed by Governor Dayton to hold off on any recommended restrictions–which may have included watering bans–until at least July 2019.
