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?