The Lake Superior-Poplar River Water District received good news this week on its plan to construct an approximately 2-mile 20-inch diameter pipeline from Lake Superior to Lutsen Mountains Ski Hill. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Assistant Commissioner Mary McConnell issued a decision on October 30, 2012 stating that the DNR had determined that the proposed Poplar River Water District project “does not have the potential for significant environmental effects.”
The pipeline will be used for snowmaking at the ski hill, but plans also call for the pipeline to be used as sustainable water source for irrigation at Superior National at Lutsen golf course, as well as for drinking water for resorts on the ski hill and fire protection via hydrants in the water district.
The DNR decision document includes responses to comments received during this summer’s 30-day comment period from several individuals as well as the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy; the Izaak Walton League, Duluth-McCabe Chapter; Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness; Save Lake Superior Association and Trout Unlimited- Minnesota.
The record of decision asserts that the environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) sufficiently answers the DNR’s concerns and those of the public. The decision not to conduct a more in-depth and lengthy environmental impact study (EIS) comes at the end of the 25-page document that describes the project and its purpose, as well as concerns about the environmental effects on the Poplar River from the possibility of increased snowmaking, construction of new ski areas, and expansion of the golf course—and the DNR’s answers to those concerns.
“The Environmental Assessment Worksheet provides significant protections to the Poplar River,” Tom Rider, co-owner at Lutsen Mountains Corporation (LMC) said. Rider added that protections include the addition of best management practices on existing and future ski areas to reduce and minimize sediment into the Poplar River from the ski hill.
The DNR’s decision to not require an environmental impact statement allows the project to move forward to the construction phase. “We have been working hard on the engineering and costs to get the project to the bid stage for construction. The project protects and provides jobs in our community. We anticipate starting construction in the spring and using Cook County contractors,” said Rider.
The Poplar River was listed as impaired for sediment in 2004. Since that time, LMC and adjacent landowners have invested $1.6 million into mitigation projects. Of that amount, nearly $600,000 has been contributed by private sources. “In conjunction with this partnership effort, Lutsen Mountains has implemented our own mitigation projects,” Rider added. “The Poplar River is important to our community.”
In November 2011, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources granted LMC permission to continue drawing water from the Poplar River for snowmaking, despite very low water levels in the river. However, at that time, DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr stressed that the permit is a short-term solution. The DNR said LMC must cease all pumping from the Poplar River by fall 2016.
“Lutsen Mountains is doing exactly what the environmental community wanted them to do,” said Frank Moe, Board member of Conservation Minnesota. “They are on track with accomplishing the goal of moving snowmaking operations out of the Poplar River and to Lake Superior as quickly as possible.”
“This project is absolutely critical to sustaining the winter tourism economy in Cook County,” said Scott Harrison, owner at Lutsen Resort. “Tourism drives our economy and winter tourism is a vital component to the area.”
The water district was formed this summer in accordance with the 2012 Legislation establishing the district and funding for the pipeline. Recently, the project was awarded a $3.6 million grant from the Department of Economic Development for pipeline construction; a local match of $1.2 million is also required and is in place.
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