Characterizing Groundwater/Surface Water Interactions in Lakes: White Bear Lake Study:

Groundwater and Surface-Water Interaction Partners

Lead: White Bear Lake Conservation District

State

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MN Legacy Funding)

County

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

Metropolitan Council

Ramsey County

Washington County

Region

Cities

White Bear Lake White Bear Township

Birchwood Mahtomedi

Private

White Bear Lake Home Owners Association

White Bear Lake VFW

Watershed Organizations

Rice Creek Watershed District

Vadnais Lakes Area Water Management Organization

League of Women Voters White Bear Lake Area

Thank You, Local Residents!

Water Elevation (ft AMSL)

Annual Precipitation

(in)

White Bear Lake Water Elevation and Precipitation 1924 - 2011

1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010918

920

922

924

926

928

1951-1980 avg =30.73 in/yr

1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 201010

20

30

40

50

Ordinary High Water Line

- Little change

- Minor decrease (1 foot or less)

- Moderate decrease (2-3 feet)

- Substantial decrease (4 or more feet)

Lakes with Lower Water Levels – 2004-2011

White Bear – 4-5

Otter

Snail – 4-5

Turtle - 2

Birch - 2

Sunset – 4-5

Elmo – 1 -2

Pine Tree – 1-2

Mann - 3

Bald Eagle 1

Ramsey Washington

Anoka

- Little change

- Minor decrease (1 foot or less)

- Moderate decrease (2-3 feet)

- Substantial decrease (4 or more feet)

Lakes with Lower Water Levels – 2004-2011

White Bear – 4-5

Otter

Snail – 4-5

Turtle - 2

Birch - 2

Sunset – 4-5

Elmo – 1 -2

Pine Tree – 1-2

Mann - 3

Bald Eagle 1

Ramsey Washington

Anoka

919

920

921

922

923

924

925

1/1/2004 12/31/2005 1/1/2008 1/1/2010 1/2/2012

White Bear

2004 2006 2012 2008 2010

888

889

890

891

892

893

894

1/1/2004 12/31/2005 1/1/2008 1/1/2010 1/2/20122004 2006 2012 2008 2010

Turtle

Birch

916

917

918

919

920

921

922

1/1/2004 12/31/2005 1/1/2008 1/1/2010 1/2/20122004 2006 2012 2008 2010

- Little change

- Minor decrease (1 foot or less)

- Moderate decrease (2-3 feet)

- Substantial decrease (4 or more feet)

Lakes with Lower Water Levels – 2004-2011

White Bear – 4-5

Otter

Snail – 4-5

Turtle - 2

Birch - 2

Sunset – 4-5

Elmo – 1 -2

Pine Tree – 1-2

Mann - 3

Bald Eagle 1

Ramsey Washington

Anoka

919

920

921

922

923

924

925

1/1/2004 12/31/2005 1/1/2008 1/1/2010 1/2/2012

White Bear

2004 2006 2012 2008 2010

888

889

890

891

892

893

894

1/1/2004 12/31/2005 1/1/2008 1/1/2010 1/2/20122004 2006 2012 2008 2010

Turtle

Birch

916

917

918

919

920

921

922

1/1/2004 12/31/2005 1/1/2008 1/1/2010 1/2/20122004 2006 2012 2008 2010

Mann

963

964

965

966

967

968

969

1/1/2004 12/31/2005 1/1/2008 1/1/2010 1/2/2012

South School Section

960

962

964

966

968

970

1/1/2004 12/31/2005 1/1/2008 1/1/2010 1/2/2012

Sunset

2004 2006 2012 2008 2010

2004 2006 2012 2008 2010

Long/Round

958

959

960

961

962

963

964

965

1/1/2004 12/31/2005 1/1/2008 1/1/2010 1/2/20122004 2006 2012 2008 2010

What is Groundwater?

Groundwater - water below the land surface totally filling openings in underground rocks and sediments

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1993/ofr93-643/

From U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-643

Aquifer - underground rocks and sediments containing groundwater for water supplies

General Cross-section Showing Water Balance for a Closed Basin Lake

Precipitation (Rain and Snow)

GW flow (shallow glacial)

GW flow (shallow bedrock)

Well Pumping

GW flow (deep bedrock)

Evaporation

Transpiration (Plants, Grass, Tree)

GW flow

Geologic cross-section – White Bear Lake (Tipping, 2011)

Mahtomedi

Manitou Island Bridge

Geologic cross-section – White Bear Lake (Tipping, 2011)

Elevation (ft above msl)

950

1,000

550

500

600

900

850

800

750

700

650

Manitou Island Bridge

Mahtomedi

Prairie du Chien Group

St. Peter Sandstone

Glacial Till (Superior)

White Bear Lake Glacial Till

(Undifferentiated) Till

Jordan Sandstone

St. Lawrence Formation

Till

Southeast Northwest

Major Aquifer

USGS Cooperative Study, 2011-2012

Objective

Study Accomplishments

2 ) Groundwater Level Synoptic Survey

3) Temperature/Mini-piezometer/Seepage Meter Survey

characterize groundwater and surface water interactions in White Bear Lake (groundwater inflow/outflow)

1 ) Precipitation/Groundwater/Lake Level Analysis

4 ) Lake Sediment Coring

5 ) Water-Quality Survey – including Ecomapper

Conclusions on White Bear Lake

Low lake levels can be explained by higher regional pumping and lower precipitation

Groundwater flows into the lake from glacial sediments

Lake water flows out and reaches wells in Prairie du Chien/Jordan and glacial aquifers

Water Elevation (ft AMSL)

Annual Precipitation

(in)

White Bear Lake – Water Elevation and Precipitation, 1978-2011

2003

Groundwater pumping to lake ended

1978 -2002 2003-2011

15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

-2

-1

0

1

2 1978-20022003-2011

White Bear Lake Annual Lake Level Change versus Precipitation

Annual lake level change reduced by 0.5 ft

On average, 4 more inches of precip needed per year to sustain lake level

Annual Precipitation (inches)

Annual Lake Level

Change (feet)

Significant in the summer (June, July, and August)

R2 = 0.75, p = 0.005

0 1 20.5 Miles

!(

!(

!( !(

!(

Washington

Ramsey

Anoka

0 1 20.5 Miles

White Bear Lake and Prairie Du Chien Jordan Water Levels

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

880

900

920

940

960

Year

Wat

er L

evel

(fee

t, N

AVD

88)

• Lake level follows PDCJ levels

• Increasing annual PDCJ variability

2003

DNR obwells

• Low levels consistently observed in the summer months since 2003

Annual Pumping from High-Capacity Wells - White Bear Lake Study Area 1980-2010

Annual Pumpage (millions

of gallons) - Municipal

- Other Uses

1980 1990 2000 20100

2000

4000

6000

1980 1990 2000 20100

2000

4000

6000

Year

Pumpage By Use

Pumpage By Aquifer

Annual Pumpage (millions

of gallons)

- Total

- Total - Prairie du Chien

Group/Jordan

- Multiple Aquifers

- Glacial Aquifers

- St. Peter Sandstone

2003

• Centerville • Columbus • Forest Lake • Hugo • Lino Lakes

• Mahtomedi • North St. Paul • Vadnais Heights • White Bear Lake • White Bear Township

Municipalities included:

Annual Pumping from High-Capacity Wells - White Bear Lake Study Area 1980-2010

Annual Pumpage (millions

of gallons) - Municipal

- Other Uses

1980 1990 2000 20100

2000

4000

6000

1980 1990 2000 20100

2000

4000

6000

Year

Pumpage By Use

Pumpage By Aquifer

Annual Pumpage (millions

of gallons)

- Total

- Total - Prairie du Chien

Group/Jordan

- Multiple Aquifers

- Glacial Aquifers

- St. Peter Sandstone

2003

* Summer pumping from the PDCJ aquifer is increasing

Observed Lake Level

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012918

920

922

924

926

Simulation of Pumping on White Bear Lake Levels 2003 - 2011

Year

Water Elevationft AMSL (1912 datum)

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012918

920

922

924

926

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012918

920

922

924

926

Observed Lake LevelPredicted Values Actual 2003 - 2010 Pumping ConditionsObserved Lake LevelPredicted Values Actual 2003 - 2010 Pumping ConditionsPredicted Values at 1980-2002 Average Pumping Rates

Some years had low precipitation, and the lake level would have declined, even with less pumping

4.4 ft Pumping explains more of the recent decline.

Observed Lake Level Modeled Lake Level at 2003-2010 Pumping Rates Modeled Lake Level at average 1980-2002 Pumping Rates

Groundwater Level Synoptic Survey

Measure water levels in wells and lakes a short period of time

Results

Two surveys

1) March - April (low pumping) 2) August (high pumping)

measured water levels in 238 wells and 66 lakes

Regional Groundwater Levels for Aquifers in the White Bear Lake Area

USGS, State of Minnesota (DNR, MPCA, and BWSR), Met Council

Potentiometric Surface for Quaternary (Glacial)

Water-table Aquifer

March 2011

12 wells and 66 lakes

Mahtomedi Public Beach

Well – water level measurement

Potentiometric (Groundwater Elevation) Contour

Direction of Groundwater Inflow

N

0 4 miles 2 Direction of Lake Water Outflow

Iron Seeps forming at Mahtomedi Public Beach

Groundwater inflow to White Bear Lake

July – September, 2011

Water Temperatures in Nearshore Lake Sediments

16 - 18 °

14 -16 ° 12 -14°

18 - 20 ° 20 - 22 ° 22 - 24 ° 24 - 26 ° 26 - 28 ° 28 - 30 °

Cooler Temperatures – Groundwater Inflow

(springs)

Collected Water Samples

Seepage Meter Surveys – May and August/September 2011 May - 9 nearshore transects - measured groundwater flux

(inflow to lake or outflow to aquifer)

August/September – 22 nearshore transects/single meters

Nearshore Seepage Meter Surveys – August 2011

Site Average Flux

(cm/day) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

-0.06 -0.13 0.14 1.11 0.13 0.16 0.02 0.12 0.17

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10 0.08 11 0.57 12 0.29 13 3.03 14 27.6 15 7.00 16 20.3 17 3.22 18 6.87 19 0.76 20 26.6

10

11 12

13 14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

21 3.00 22 0.40

Potentiometric Surface for Prairie Du Chien/Jordan

Aquifer

March 2011 113 wells

Well – water level measurement

Potentiometric (Groundwater Elevation) Contour

Estimated Potentiometric Contour

N

Direction of Groundwater Flow

Groundwater Elevation Change in Prairie Du Chien/Jordan Aquifer

Between March 2011 and August

N

Well – water level change

0 – 2 foot Decline

0 – 2 foot Rise 2 – 4 foot Rise

2 – 4 foot Decline 4 – 6 foot Decline 6 – 8 foot Decline 8 – 10 foot Decline

10 – 12 foot Decline

Stable Isotopes – Lake Hydrology

Isotopes – “heavy” and “light” forms of the same chemical element, i.e. hydrogen, oxygen

Hydrology

Use isotopic ratios similar to “DNA” fingerprinting

identify sources and mixtures of waters

Compare

“Light/Heavy” Hydrogen ratio vs “Light/Heavy” Oxygen ratio

What are stable isotopes?

Stable Isotopes – White Bear Lake

Snow, Rain, and Lake Water Lake Water

Water Quality 2011 - Wells

N

Aquifers

- Glacial (GLA)

- St. Peter Sandstone (STP)

- Prairie du Chien Group / Jordan Sandstone (PDCJ)

Groundwater sampled from wells and surface waters sampled from White Bear Lake

100% Groundwater

100% Lake water

Results of Stable Isotope Model 2011 - Wells

N

Percentage of Contribution

Glacial

Groundwater Lake water

Results of Stable Isotope Model 2011 - Wells

N

Percentage of Contribution

St. Peter Sandstone

Groundwater Lake water

Results of Stable Isotope Model 2011 - Wells

N

Percentage of Contribution

Glacial

St. Peter Sandstone

General Groundwater Flow Direction – PDCJ

August 2011

Prairie du Chien Group / Jordan Sandstone (PDCJ)

Groundwater Lake water

General Hydrogeology – White Bear Lake

1,000

1,000

800

600

400

Elevation (feet AMSL)

Geology

White Bear Lake

Glacial Sands/Clays/

Tills

St. Peter S.S

Prairie du Chien Group

Jordan Sandstone

St. Lawrence Formation

West East Well

Mixture of Groundwater/Lake

Water

(modified from Mossler and Bloomgren, 1990)

920’ 925’ 925’

912’

910’ 908’

From: MDNR, 1978

Lake Sediment Coring

From: MDNR, 1978 Probe Measurement

Core/Probe Measurement

Site Organic Sediment

Thickness (ft)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0.20

4.20

4.30

1.51

6.76

7.02

11.38

10.66

14.86

10 2.89

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9

10

Water Depth (ft)

10.66

10.30

17.98

11.81

39.70

75.62

44.29

32.48

30.18

7.48

U of MN, LaCore Facility

Water-quality survey - Ecomapper

Water temperature

July 11-14, 2011 White Bear Lake

Dissolved Oxygen

Specific Conductance

Chlorophyll

Turbidity

Blue-green Algae pH

From: MDNR, 1978

Ecomapper – Water Temperature Survey

Conclusions on White Bear Lake

Low lake levels can be explained by higher regional pumping and lower precipitation

Groundwater flows into the lake from glacial sediments

Lake water flows out and reaches wells in Prairie du Chien/Jordan and glacial aquifers

USGS Potential Activities - Address the Low Water Levels

work with State (MDNR, MPCA, MDH, Met Council), counties, and cities to address:

How much water can we pump from the Prairie du Chien with

a) minimal impact on lake levels? b) minimal lake water entering the wells?

Which wells are impacting the lake levels?

Groundwater level monitoring

Groundwater-flow models

Water quality (stable isotopes)

Any Questions?