The Vadnais Lakes Area Watershed Management Organization (VLAWMO), in partnership with White Bear Township, sought a sustainable alternative to irrigating Polar Lakes Park with 2.7 to 5.4 million gallons of potable groundwater each year. Facing increasing groundwater use restrictions due to its proximity to White Bear Lake and aiming to reduce pollutant loading to the impaired Wilkinson Lake downstream, VLAWMO engaged Barr to evaluate whether the park’s irrigation needs could be met with reused stormwater.
To build a comprehensive understanding of irrigation demand and available reuse water, Barr reviewed existing irrigation use data, analyzed contributing watershed flows, and conducted upland and bathymetric surveys to quantify storage within an on-site constructed mitigation wetland. Our team installed piezometers to understand groundwater interactions at the pond and leveraged wetland water-level, flow, and water-quality monitoring data to assess the potential to reduce pollutants and treatment needs. Using this information, we applied existing water-reuse calculators to optimize feasible system configurations.
Barr developed two conceptual stormwater reuse designs serving separate irrigation zones within the park and prepared planning-level cost estimates. Results showed that a reuse system could meet more than 90% of the park’s average annual irrigation demand, with potable water needed only as backup. Barr also summarized potential wetland impacts for review by the Board of Water and Soil Resources and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—both of which expressed no permitting concerns at the feasibility stage.
Through strong collaboration with VLAWMO and township leadership, the feasibility study is now guiding pursuit of grant funding for implementation. The proposed system will help protect groundwater resources, reduce pollutant loading, and support long term water resilience.
