does anyone know what the water level is at for white bear lake? I know the water level had been on the fall for years know for whatever reason.( and there’s many theories) I would think it has to be up a little for the summer! where’s it at?
Here is the data chart from the DNR.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showlevel.html?id=82016700
-J.
White Bear is up from its historic low levels, but not as much as you might think. WBL has a very small drainage area that actually flows into the lake so runoff surface water contributes almost nothing to its overall level.
WBL is supplied with water almost exclusively by underwater springs. The problem with the water levels has been traced to the slowing of the flow rate of these springs due to the massive increase in wells tapping into the aquifer in the area to the north of WBL near Hugo, Lino Lakes, etc.
The only solution for WBL is to reduce the dependency on aquifer water in this area. Otherwise, the levels will continue to roller coaster as the aquifer rises and falls. There is a possible solution to redirect water from other lakes nearby that have better surface collection but this would be a massive engineering project and would likely face huge opposition from landowners.
Grouse
interesting! thanks for the info guys
“The only solution for WBL is to reduce the dependency on aquifer water in this area”
Yet people will keep watering their lawns, even during a rainy period 
It’s crazy driving around WBL the last few years, SO many houses for sale on the lake and so many docks that are 4x the length they used to be.
Yet people will keep watering their lawns, even during a rainy period
The hard reality is that it’s all of the above. Lawns, showers, flushing toilets, making coffee… There was just a massive amount of building in the area that happens to be right on top of the aquifer that supplies White Bear Lake and everyone just assumed there was an endless supply of water there to be sucked out of the ground.
One thing that’s really difficult for us in MN to get used to is that just because you have a lot of SURFACE water doesn’t mean you have ample aquifers as well. Our 2 biggest cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul long ago switched over from aquifer water to treated surface water and that change has put the question of our water supply out of sight and out of mind for many in MN.
The outer ring burbs need to start this transition now as well, but that’s a very tough sell when people see lakes all around them, they just assume that water on the surface translates to water underground as well.
Grouse
It really is amazing how much Hugo has been developed in the last 15 years. Growing up there was nothing out there at all. Now it’s townhome central.
Didn’t they solve this by putting the City of Minneapolis’ snow on it a couple years ago…. 
They told us the drought story for as long as they could but yep its the aquifers. Last I heard the DNR is being sued for giving too many well permits.
Course people would be mad and probably sue if they did not issue permits.
Does anyone know much about these aquifers? How much water is in one? Do they know? How do they know? The rain that fell last night, how long does it take to get into the WBL aquifer? I know it varies from aquifer to aquifer.
?????
It’s crazy driving around WBL the last few years, SO many houses for sale on the lake and so many docks that are 4x the length they used to be.
You know I always wonder at what point is there dock actually not allowed, jeeze some of those docks are like 200′, then the land where the lake use to be they are starting to make a beach also, Just wonder how they are getting away with that.
They told us the drought story for as long as they could but yep its the aquifers. Last I heard the DNR is being sued for giving too many well permits.
Course people would be mad and probably sue if they did not issue permits.
Does anyone know much about these aquifers? How much water is in one? Do they know? How do they know? The rain that fell last night, how long does it take to get into the WBL aquifer? I know it varies from aquifer to aquifer.
?????
Just think of all the rain that no longer gets absorbed into the ground. Everything these days is tar & concrete and runs down a storm sewer.Millions of gallons of water that use to go into the ground now ends up elsewhere.
You know I always wonder at what point is there dock actually not allowed, jeeze some of those docks are like 200′, then the land where the lake use to be they are starting to make a beach also, Just wonder how they are getting away with that.
That’s a good question, we have friends that had to add like 75 feet of dock, and even then their pontoon is sitting in about 1.5 feet of water.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Charles wrote:</div>
You know I always wonder at what point is there dock actually not allowed, jeeze some of those docks are like 200′, then the land where the lake use to be they are starting to make a beach also, Just wonder how they are getting away with that.That’s a good question, we have friends that had to add like 75 feet of dock, and even then their pontoon is sitting in about 1.5 feet of water.
Holy crap man!!
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