Wastewater as new water for White Bear Lake under consideration

Using wastewater to replenish White Bear Lake is the basis of a bill heard Wednesday by the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee.

Sponsored by Rep. Matt Dean (R-Dellwood), HF1557 would direct the Department of Natural Resources to study construction of a wastewater treatment plant for the communities surrounding White Bear Lake. The water this plant produces would be used to boost lake levels, which have declined dramatically over the last decade.

The bill, which was laid over for possible omnibus bill inclusion, would require the DNR to report the results of the study to the legislature no later than Jan. 15, 2016.

As an alternative solution, the bill would also require the Metropolitan Council to obtain at least three proposals for the design and construction of an augmentation supply system from nearby Sucker Lake.

“Anybody who’s been on White Bear Lake in the last 10 years has seen the lake drain,” Dean said.

Dean said lake levels are down nearly 6 feet and roughly 1 billion gallons of water per foot are required to raise them again. He cited a study done by the U.S. Geological Survey that linked the decline to depletion of the aquifer 400 feet below the lake, and said there is general agreement that a “two-pronged solution” of augmentation and conservation is needed to solve the problem.

Dean said HF1557 would offer options that could be put on the table for discussion over the next year.

Concerns expressed

Bob Meier, Department of Natural Resources assistant commissioner voiced concerns about the bill.

Meier said settlement terms of a lawsuit brought by White Bear Lake homeowners in 2012 require the DNR to obtain funding from the Legislature to study the problem. However, the settlement does not currently include language that augmentation be considered. If the DNR were directed by HF1557 to pursue that course of action, the agency could be in violation and find itself back in court.

“This bill as drafted does not meet the requirements of that settlement agreement,” Meier said.

However, Meier said a bill was introduced in the Senate Thursday, SF1910, that did satisfy the terms of the settlement and language that includes augmentation could be added to that bill, and any companion introduced in the House.

Committee chair Rep. Denny McNamara (R-Hastings) said discussion on the bill would continue, and an oral amendment was adopted that added the Metropolitan Council to agencies directed by HF1557 to study the problem.

“The people in White Bear are sick of waiting,” McNamara said. “So I think we better look at some more options. Kicking it around at little bit at this point is probably a doggone good idea.”

The bill’s companion, SF1641, is sponsored by Sen. Charles W. Wiger (DFL-Maplewood) and awaits action by the Senate Capital Investment Committee.