Enbridge’s puncturing of confined aquifers at multiple places along the pipeline route has unnaturally released thousands of gallons of deep groundwater to the surface. This water then flowed through wetlands, streams, and lakes, potentially changing the hydrology and chemistry. In addition, their horizontal directional drilling (HDD) frac-outs (unplanned releases, which occurred at 67% of their HDD crossings) left drilling fluid mud in unknown concentrations throughout the land.

Manoomin evolved to live and thrive in water chemistry that is much different than aquifer water, which is often deoxygenated and can contain high levels of some salts and metals. Water erupting from aquifers, at a constant 45-50°F year-round, can alter the temperature and chemistry of surface water bodies and wetlands, which could threaten key species, like manoomin, and permanently change these ecosystems.

Aquifer breaches can also dry up natural springs and wells, which can have far-reaching impacts on ecosystems and human water systems. 

State regulatory agencies have failed to give proper notice to the public of the many hydrology impacts that bring potential impacts to manoomin beds. While they have now reported a fourth aquifer breach - adjacent to Moose Lake in Aitkin county, a large wild rice lake - to their original three, our team has documented many more sites of unrelenting water upwelling from the land yet to be formally recognized to the public.

Enbridge was not required to report drilling fluid releases to the environment to regulatory agencies. The company remains unable to stop many of the unrelenting water flows that remain along their pipeline corridor.