Lutsen, MN – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has approved Lutsen Mountains’ plan to draw water from Lake Superior to fuel its snowmaking plant.

Lutsen has been drawing snowmaking water from the Poplar River, and in the process drawing the ire of fishermen and environmentalists as well as water levels dropped during the state’s continuing drought. The new plan will require a $5 million pipeline from Lake Superior to the resort, for which Lutsen still needs to obtain state and county permits. As a result, no timetable for construction has yet been announced.

In addition to snowmaking, the new pipeline will also supply the community with culinary and firefighting water, which prompted the state legislature to authorize the community to establish a water district and contribute funds to offset the pipeline’s cost.