6.1. ERMUSR 06-11-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Freshwater Society report examines groundwater sustainability htto://freshwater.o rq/ The following is adapted from the website above. A new report from the Freshwater Society concludes that Minnesotans are over-using groundwater in ways that could leave the state short of water. "Minnesota's Groundwater: Is our use sustainable?"estimates that total reported groundwater pumping in Minnesota increased by about 2.8 billion gallons per year from 1988 through 2011. That adds up to a 31 percent increase over that period. By comparison, the state's population increased 24 percent in the same period. Agricultural irrigation,the second-biggest use of groundwater and the fastest-growing use, increased an estimated 73 percent during those years. Pumping by city water systems,the biggest single use, increased an estimated 33 percent. The Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Metropolitan Council's top water planner warn that current pumping levels are unsustainable or close to becoming unsustainable in some areas. According to the Freshwater report, the shrinkage of White Bear Lake over the last decade illustrates that unsustainability. On a related note, Freshwater Society is sponsoring a free public lecture on the groundwater/surface water/wetlands connection on June 6th, 2013,from 7-9 p.m. at the U of M St. Paul CampusStudent Center Theater.The talk, titled Not Just for Scientists Anymore: Why the Public Should Care about the Connection between Groundwater and Lakes,Streams and Wetlands, features Don Rosenberry, a U.S. Geological Survey hydrologist who was part of the research team that studied the dramatic decline in White Bear Lake For more information, to register for the lecture or to download the report, visit the webpage above.