White Bear Lake Area Comprehensive Plan Work Group

This work group will be developing a comprehensive plan to ensure communities in the White Bear Lake area have access to sufficient safe drinking water to allow for municipal growth while simultaneously ensuring the sustainability of surface water and groundwater resources to supply the needs of future generations.

The comprehensive plan must:

Evaluate methods for conserving and recharging groundwater in the area including:
1. Converting water supplies that are groundwater dependent to total or partial supplies from surface water sources
2. Reusing water, including water discharged from contaminated wells
3. Projects designed to increase groundwater recharge
4. Other methods for reducing groundwater use
Based on this evaluation, determine which existing groundwater supply wells, if converted to surface water sources, would be most effective and efficient in ensuring future water sustainability in the area.
Identify a long-term plan for converting the identified groundwater wells to surface water sources, including recommendations on water supply governance and concept-level engineering that addresses preliminary design considerations, including: supply source, treatment, distribution, operation, and financing needed to complete any changes to water supply infrastructure.
Include any policy and funding recommendations for converting groundwater supply wells to surface water sources, recommendations for treating and reusing wastewater, and any other recommendations for additional measures that reduce groundwater use, promote water reuse, and increase groundwater recharge.
Include any policy and funding recommendations for local wastewater treatment and recharge.
Be submitted to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance and policy by June 30, 2027

Minnesota Laws 2023, Chapter 60, Article 1, Section 5(f)

Upcoming Meetings

Agendas and meeting materials will be posted here approximately one week before each meeting's date. Meeting time is 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

July 24, 2025 - St. Paul Regional Water Services
October 21, 2025 - Stillwater Public Library

Meeting materials

Meeting Date	Agenda & Materials	Minutes
4/29/2025	4/29/2025 Agenda & Materials for White Bear Lake Area Comprehensive Plan Work Group
3/26/2025	3/26/2025 Agenda & Materials for White Bear Lake Area Comprehensive Plan Work Group	3/26/2025 Minutes
2/4/2025	2/4/2025 Agenda & Materials for White Bear Lake Area Comprehensive Plan Work Group	2/4/2025 Minutes
11/7/2024	11/7/2024 Agenda & Materials for White Bear Lake Area Comprehensive Plan Work Group	11/7/2024 Minutes
5/22/2024	5/22/2024 Agenda & Materials for White Bear Lake Area Comprehensive Plan Work Group	5/22/2024 Minutes
4/25/2024	4/25/2024 Agenda & Materials for White Bear Lake Area Comprehensive Plan Work Group	4/25/2024 Minutes
3/14/2024	3/14/2024 Agenda & Materials for White Bear Lake Area Comprehensive Plan Work Group	3/14/2024 Minutes
1/17/2024	1/17/2024 Agenda & Materials for White Bear Lake Area Comprehensive Plan Work Group	1/17/2024 Minutes

Bryan Bear, City of Hugo
Clark Schroeder, City of Lake Elmo
Michael Grochala, City of Lino Lakes
Bob Goebel, City of Mahtomedi
Craig Schlichting, City of New Brighton
Kevin Kress, City of North Oaks
Morgan Dawley, City of North St. Paul
Chris Volkers, City of Oakdale
Tom Wesolowski, City of Shoreview
Shawn Sanders, City of Stillwater
Jim Hauth, City of Vadnais Heights
Paul Kauppi, City of White Bear Lake
Mary Van Milligen, City of Woodbury
Pat Christopherson, White Bear Township
David Weum, Department of Health
Jason Moeckel, Department of Natural Resources
vacant, Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee (MAWSAC)
Liz Kaufenberg, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Racquel Vaske, Saint Paul Regional Water Services

Converting water supplies that are groundwater dependent to total or partial supplies from surface water

Study No. 1 - Redirect stormwater to augment White Bear Lake
Study No. 2 - Convey treated surface water from St. Paul Regional Water Services to north and east communities: Construct a regional surface water treatment plant near the chain of lakes in the north metro and convey treated surface water to north and east communities. Added - Convey treated surface water from St. Paul Regional Water Services to north and east communities and construct a regional surface water treatment plant near the chain of lakes in the north metro and convey treated surface water to north and east communities

Reuse water

Study No. 3 - Reuse of treated wastewater from local Met Council interceptors for industrial and agricultural users
Study No. 4 - Stormwater reuse for irrigation
Study No. 5 - Reuse water discharged from contaminated wells – MPCA Project 1007

Projects designed to increase groundwater recharge

Study No. 6 - Treat wastewater from local Met Council interceptors and inject the treated wastewater into the aquifer to raise groundwater elevations
Study No. 7A – Water quality study as it relates to lake augmentation study (Study No. 7B)
Study No. 7B - Lake augmentation by pumping treated surface water from the chain of lakes into White Bear Lake
Study No. 8 - Stormwater collection and infiltration to raise groundwater elevations
Study No. 9A – Raise outlet elevation of White Bear Lake – initial evaluation of potential flood impacts
Study No. 9B – Raise outlet elevation of White Bear Lake – potential water storage and downstream hydraulic capacity. This study would be completed only if favorable results are achieved with Study No. 9A

Other methods for reducing groundwater use

Study No. 10 - Lawn water restrictions (day of week and time)
Study No. 11 - Implement/require/encourage non- or less-potable water reuse for irrigation and process water
Study No. 12 - Tiered increasing block water utility rates
Study No. 13 - Potential water savings from alternative low input turf grasses

Other studies (dependent on available funding)

Study No. 14A – Future community impacts from PFAS groundwater contamination with groundwater modeling
Study No. 14B – Estimated capital and long-term O&M costs of PFAS water treatment for impacted communities
Study No. 15 – Estimated capital and long-term O&M costs to construct two additional wells in Shoreview and expand the city’s existing water treatment plant capacity to serve drinking water for North Oaks’ projected 2050 and ultimate development water demands if groundwater modeling determines that Shoreview can remain on groundwater through ultimate development.