Why is the excessive pumping of water occurring?
- The MPRB's consultant, Barr Engineering, states that the increased level of pumping is due to:
- Regional groundwater inflows (~50%).
- High water levels of Lake Hiawatha that create seepage from the lake to the golf course (~30%).
- A 2012 storm water diversion project that dumps storm sewer water onto the golf course (~20%).
- Some causes are:
- Significant development in the upper Minnehaha Creek watershed.
- High points in the outbound Minnehaha Creek.
- A more constant flow in Minnehaha Creek due to Grey's Bay dam.
- The high level of water is creating the following problems:
- More pumping is required from the golf course.
- Minnehaha Creek is degrading due to the constant flow of water which is requiring restoration.
- Lake Nokomis is being kept at abnormally high levels which is requiring restoration.
- The 43rd street storm sewer pipe, which removes water from the Lake Hiawatha neighborhoods, is suffering from degraded capacity .
- The MPRB's proposed plan does nothing to decrease this water inflow into the Hiawatha neighborhood. In fact, the plan will retain more water on the property, and the Park Board has indicated that they may dump even more water on the property.
Read more at: SaveHiawatha18 White Paper