DNR urging people to stay off the ice at the Canisteo, Holman Lake and nearby wetlands

The DNR has begun contingency pumping at the Canisteo Legacy Mine Pit to keep water levels below 1,318 feet for the protection of local community infrastructure.

And the agency is warning you to stay away from the ice all winter long.

“Ultimately we’ll be dropping water levels in the pit, which will cause unsafe ice conditions,” explained Mike Liljegren, Assistant Director, Lands and Minerals. “You’ll have a space between the bottom of the ice and the top of the water column.”

Water from the Canisteo is flowing into nearby wetlands and Holman Lake in Itasca County, potentially causing unsafe ice conditions on those waterbodies as well.

Winter pumping at the Canisteo Pit will ensure the drain tile system in the city of Bovey will continue to divert groundwater away from residential structures.

The pumping system is located on the east side of the Canisteo and is drawing water from the pit at a maximum rate of 11,000 gallons per minute.

The water is being discharged to a wetland complex that flows into Holman Lake, and is being screened for smelt.

This will continue through the winter. They had planned on doing it in the fall, but then the discovery of zebra mussels paused the plans.