Heavy rain and thunderstorms continue across southeastern Minnesota Thursday evening.

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A lawsuit has been filed against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources over the shrinking water levels of White Bear Lake. The water level has declined for years and it's now about 5 feet below normal levels leaving the lake bed exposed. 

The citizens group that is suing says the aquifer feeding the lake has been depleted by excessive pumping of water by nearby fast-growing municipalities. They claim the DNR is to blame because they allowed the pumping. The DNR has not commented on the lawsuit. 

This battle could be an important test case of how we balance environmental concerns with commerce. Co-director of the University of Minnesota's Water Resources Center, Deborah Swackhamer, joins MPR's Cathy Wurzer to discuss.

Gallery

Minn. pushed to better groundwater management

DNR sued over White Bear Lake water levels

Environmental News

Cathy Wurzer

Author

A lawsuit has been filed against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources over the shrinking water levels of White Bear Lake.

A citizen's group is suing MN DNR over White Bear Lake's shrinking water levels.

White Bear Lake suit highlights balance between environment, commerce

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